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Strategies to Reduce Unnecessary Cognitive Load during Lecture

This faculty/instructor session is divided into two parts:

Part 1: Background Theory and Research, 1:30–2:10 p.m,
Cognitive load refers to the mental resources it takes to do a task. In lectures, students are often presented with large amounts of new information that exceed their processing capacity, resulting in cognitive overload and poor learning (Mayer, 2011).

By far the most common problem is that lectures contain too much information.  One count has it that an average engineering lecture introduces a new equation every 2.5 minutes and a new variable every 45 seconds (Blikstein & Wilensky, 2010). Imagine sitting through that for an hour!
                                     - Schwartz, Tsang, & Blair, 2016, The ABCs of How We Learn, p.124

Too much information is not the only source of overload. Distractions, disorganized instruction, and even an instructor's anecdotes are sources of unnecessary cognitive load that make it harder for students to learn. We will examine sources of cognitive load, how they interfere with learning, and review strategies to reduce and manage cognitive load.

Part 2: Work Session, 2:15–3:00 p.m.
Use a cognitive load checklist to identify unnecessary cognitive load in your lectures. Examine ways you can reduce or manage unnecessary cognitive load by modifying lecture organization, slides and visuals, projected notes, classroom atmosphere, and pace of delivery.

Register online for this session

Related campus initiatives

Transformational education

When

Past occurrences (1)

  • 1:30 to 3 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2018

Where

153 Murphy Library

UWL campus map for building location and nearby parking lots.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 153 Murphy Library

Contact

For questions about this event or to request disability accommodations , contact Bill Cerbin at 608.785.6881 or wcerbin@uwlax.edu.

Parking

Payment may be required. No permit?
Use Passport Parking.

Additional parking info
Website for Parking | Email for Parking | Call for Parking

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