word

cognitive load

KOG-nih-tiv LOHD

ˈkɒɡnɪtɪv loʊd

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Syllable breakdown

cognitiveload

Dictionary meaning

the total amount of mental effort being used in working memory at any given time; John Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory (1988) distinguishes intrinsic load (complexity of the material itself), extraneous load (caused by poor instructional design), and germane load (effort used to build schemas); reducing extraneous cognitive load is a key principle of effective educational design

Examples

Badly designed user interfaces increase cognitive load and cause errors.
Breaking a complex task into smaller steps reduces cognitive load on students.

No pronunciation difference; 'cognitive' may be slightly more compressed in British English: KOG-nih-tiv vs KOG-nuh-tiv.

Synonyms: mental load, cognitive demand

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