Lighten the load

lighten

the

load

Keoni Cabral

Experts aren’t more intelligent or thoughtful than novices

Keith Bloomfield

Experts just have more information networks and higher automation levels

They’ve seen almost every possible situation and learned responses for each; responding

automatically without needing to concentrate

Novices have few examples to draw from and are presented with a ‘problem to solve’ in almost every new situation

What’s worse, even when they realise the response required, they may have difficulty performing the required action

They need to concentrate intently to avoid making mistakes

To help learners

we need to

lighten the load

Keith Bloomfield

You’ve seen the test…

5 9 8 2 3 4 7 6 1

recall the string of numbers and on average we remember around seven

That’s pretty easy for a simple string of numbers but when we are learning something complex it is much harder

Complex learning involves high levels of element interactivity

!That means the information about to be learned cannot be understood in isolation

Zachary Veach

These techniques help lighten the load

goal free effect

!worked example

!split attention effect

!redundancy effect

!modality effect

Benefits include

Note: enhanced performance means both shorter times to complete problems and fewer errors

reduced training time

!enhanced

performance on test problems

!enhanced performance on transfer problems

the

goal free effect

Sergio Bertolini

the

goal free effect

instead of providing a problem or example and asking for a specific answer

If y =x + 6, x =z +3, and z =6, find the value of y

the

goal free effect

provide problems or examples and simply ask to find what you can

If y =x + 6, x =z +3, and z =6, find what you can

the

goal free effect

How could you apply this to one of your learning sessions?

the

worked example

the

worked example

is presented to show directly, step by step, the procedures to solve different problem types

the

worked example

!

identify problems of a particular type

!recall the steps in sequence needed to solve each particular type

!and perform each step without error

requires learners to

the

worked example

present two problem states at a time

!inform the paired nature of the material

!instruct to pay close attention to the example so they begin to see the association

example A, problem A, example B, problem B

What are two close examples in your environment you could demonstrate first then let the learner solve?

the

worked example

the

split attention effect

the

split attention effect

many instructions need both pictorial and textual information

when neither the image nor the text alone provide enough information

!we traditionally present images with text above, below, at the side (or worse still) on a separate page

the

split attention effect

the

split attention effectinstead of this

the

split attention effectand this

The forgetting curve shows how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it. A typical graph of the forgetting curve purports to show that humans tend to halve their memory of newly learned knowledge in a matter of days or weeks unless they consciously review the learned material.

the

split attention effectdo this

integrate text and image

the

split attention effect

What images and text can you combine in your presentations?

the

redundancy effect

JD HancockThe Five Stages Of Stormtrooper Grief

the

redundancy effect

when the image or the text provide enough information on their own

!we don’t need to repeat

the

redundancy effect a single source of instruction

returns higher levels of learning than either:

!an integrated format (text and graphics together)

!or a dual format (text and graphics in parallel)

the

redundancy effect

What would you just provide in textual form?

!What would you provide in pictorial form alone?

coffee is good

the

modality effect

JD Hancock

the

modality effect

we have identified those techniques that work within the limits of memory

!what if we could expand our working memory?

the

modality effect

some portions of our memory are dedicated to visual information only

!some are dedicated to aural information only

and some aurally

the

modality effect

partition information so that some is presented visually (text and graphics)

JD Hancock

the

modality effect

A reason why multi media can be used

!How can you use this technique right now?

Don’t forget!

To help learners we need to…

Keith Bloomfield

lighten

the

load

Keoni Cabral

Zachary Veach

By integrating these techniques

goal free effect

!worked example

!split attention effect

!redundancy effect

!modality effect

Print this out to helpStandard practice Cognitive load generated effect

Use conventional problems specifying the goal so students know what they have to find

The goal free effect Use goal free problems

Students need to solve many problems to learn because ‘practice makes perfect’

The worked example effect Students learn by studying worked examples. Problem solving is used to test if learning has

been effective

Instructional materials which require both textual and graphical sources of instruction

should be presented in a ‘neat and tidy’ fashion where the text and graphics are

located separately

The split attention effect Instructional material requiring both textual and

graphical should integrate

The same information should be presented in several different ways at the same time

The redundancy effect Simultaneous presentations of similar (redundant) content must be avoided

Similare to-be-learned information should be presented using an identical media format to

ensure consistency in the instructional presentations

The modality effect Mix media, so that some information is

presented visually while the remainder is presented auditorally

go!

be

awesome

Keoni Cabral