Efficiency in Learning: Evidence-Based Guidelines to Manage Cognitive Load

Chapter 4. Focus Attention and Avoid Split Attention

WHEN LEARNERS ARE FACED WITH content and delivery systems that impose a relatively high cognitive load, you should use instructional methods both to focus attention and to avoid split attention. To focus attention, use methods that direct cognitive resources toward relevant content in the training materials. For example, you can use arrows or circles as cues to draw attention to visual displays. And you can use bolding or vocal emphasis as signals to draw attention to verbal material presented in text or in narration. By split attention we refer to the extraneous cognitive load imposed when the ...