Werner Rieß

Oliver Lovell

Tino Endres

David Morkunas

Alexander Renkl

Abstract: Background & Aims Cognitive load theory assumes that the higher the learner's prior knowledge (i.e., the more expert the learner), the lower the intrinsic cognitive load (complexity) experienced for a given problem. While this is the case in many scenarios, there can be cases in which the converse is also true, resulting in more expert learners reporting higher intrinsic cognitive load than novices for the same problem. This can occur in relation to problems involving complex systems (e.g., ecological systems), for which novices' problem representations may underestimate problem complexity and therefore report lower intrinsic load than experts. This finding is borne out in the current paper. Samples, Methods & Results In Study 1 with 118 participants from the Black Forest area in Germany, participants with higher levels of forestry and ecological expertise evaluated a problem relating to the restructuring of the Black Forest to adapt to climate change as more complex than did novices. In Study 2 (within-subjects design, n = 66 primary-school students), we conceptually replicated this finding in a domain more typical of cognitive load theory studies, mathematics. We found that higher prior knowledge also reduced the underestimation of the complexity of 'tricky', but frequently used, mathematics word problems. Conclusion Our findings suggest that cognitive load theory's assumptions about intrinsic load and prior knowledge should be refined, as there seems to exist a sub-set of problem-solving tasks for which the traditional relationship between prior knowledge and reported ICL is reversed

Can Prior Knowledge Increase Task Complexity? - Cases in which Higher Prior Knowledge Leads to Higher Intrinsic Cognitive Load

Tom Sherrington

What is it that enables students to learn from some classroom activities, yet leaves them totally confused by others? Although we can't see directly into students' minds, we do have Cognitive Load Theory, and this is the next best thing. Built on the foundation of all learning, the human memory system, Cognitive Load Theory details the exact actions that teachers can take to maximise student outcomes.Written under the guidance, and thoroughly reviewed by the originator of CLT, John Sweller, this practical guide summarises over 30 years of research in this field into clear and easily understandable terms. This book features both a thorough discussion of the core principles of CLT and a wide array of classroom-ready strategies to apply it to art, music, history, chemistry, PE, mathematics, computer science, economics, biology, and more.

Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory in Action

If the sky was the limit, what would you do to become the best educator that you can be? In 2016, Ollie Lovell asked himself this same question, and concluded that asking the world’s foremost leaders in education what they do would be a great place to start. And so he did just that. Over the past five years, Ollie has spoken to sixty of the world’s most prominent teachers, leaders, and education researchers. With guests including John Hattie, Tom Sherrington, Anita Archer, Dylan Wiliam, Jim Knight, Judith Hochman, Jay McTighe, Tom Bennett, Daisy Christodoulou, Bill Rogers, Daniel Willingham, and many more, Ollie digs deep to work out what works in education, and what doesn’t. This book aims to share those insights with you. It summarises the most useful techniques, tactics and mental models from these sixty conversations, and presents them in a clear, practical, and actionable form for you to start improving your teaching and learning from the first page. Tools for Teachers will help you to teach, lead, and learn like the world’s best educators.

Oliver Lovell

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