Instructional control of cognitive load in the training of complex cognitive tasks

Fred G.W.C. Paas; Jeroen J.G. van Merrienboer

doi:10.1007/BF02213420

Instructional control of cognitive load in the training of complex cognitive tasks

Fred G.W.C. Paas^*, Jeroen J.G. van Merrienboer

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

504 Citations (Scopus)

206 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Limited processing capacity constrains learning and performance in complex cognitive tasks. In traditional instruction, novices' failure to adequately learn cognitive tasks can often be attributed to the inappropriate direction of attention and the related high or excessive load that is imposed on a learner's cognitive system. An instructional design model for the training of complex cognitive tasks should provide instructional strategies that control cognitive load. We propose such a model and recommend research in which the cognitive load of instructional manipulations is systematically investigated and determined with mental-effort based measures.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	351–371
Journal	Educational psychology review
Volume	6
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213420
Publication status	Published - 1994

Keywords

Instruction
Cognitive load
Complex cognitive tasks

Access to Document

10.1007/BF02213420

Paas1994instructionalFinal published version, 1.07 MB

Cite this

@article{624789b258864afda7fbd428b03a0c51,

title = "Instructional control of cognitive load in the training of complex cognitive tasks",

abstract = "Limited processing capacity constrains learning and performance in complex cognitive tasks. In traditional instruction, novices' failure to adequately learn cognitive tasks can often be attributed to the inappropriate direction of attention and the related high or excessive load that is imposed on a learner's cognitive system. An instructional design model for the training of complex cognitive tasks should provide instructional strategies that control cognitive load. We propose such a model and recommend research in which the cognitive load of instructional manipulations is systematically investigated and determined with mental-effort based measures.",

keywords = "Instruction, Cognitive load, Complex cognitive tasks",

author = "Paas, {Fred G.W.C.} and {van Merrienboer}, {Jeroen J.G.}",

year = "1994",

doi = "10.1007/BF02213420",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

pages = "351–371",

journal = "Educational psychology review",

issn = "1040-726X",

publisher = "Springer",

number = "12",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Instructional control of cognitive load in the training of complex cognitive tasks

AU - Paas, Fred G.W.C.

AU - van Merrienboer, Jeroen J.G.

PY - 1994

Y1 - 1994

N2 - Limited processing capacity constrains learning and performance in complex cognitive tasks. In traditional instruction, novices' failure to adequately learn cognitive tasks can often be attributed to the inappropriate direction of attention and the related high or excessive load that is imposed on a learner's cognitive system. An instructional design model for the training of complex cognitive tasks should provide instructional strategies that control cognitive load. We propose such a model and recommend research in which the cognitive load of instructional manipulations is systematically investigated and determined with mental-effort based measures.

AB - Limited processing capacity constrains learning and performance in complex cognitive tasks. In traditional instruction, novices' failure to adequately learn cognitive tasks can often be attributed to the inappropriate direction of attention and the related high or excessive load that is imposed on a learner's cognitive system. An instructional design model for the training of complex cognitive tasks should provide instructional strategies that control cognitive load. We propose such a model and recommend research in which the cognitive load of instructional manipulations is systematically investigated and determined with mental-effort based measures.

KW - Instruction

KW - Cognitive load

KW - Complex cognitive tasks

U2 - 10.1007/BF02213420

DO - 10.1007/BF02213420

M3 - Article

VL - 6

SP - 351

EP - 371

JO - Educational psychology review

JF - Educational psychology review

SN - 1040-726X

IS - 12

ER -

Instructional control of cognitive load in the training of complex cognitive tasks

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this