Effective course site design can support learning in online and hybrid environments by addressing challenges like navigation complexity, inconsistent design, and information overload. Drawing from Mayer’s (2009) twelve Principles of Multimedia Learning, we have compiled a short list of strategies to equip instructors with tools to help them minimize extraneous cognitive load, manage intrinsic load, and enhance germane load. The purpose is to empower instructors to design course sites that can foster improved retention and maximize learning outcomes.
These principles are organized into three categories, providing practical insights to improve the learning experience:
| Intrinsic Load (Manage) | Extraneous Load (Reduce) | Germane Load (Maximize) |
|---|---|---|
|
Pre-training Principle: Provide foundational knowledge before presenting new content. Segmenting Principle: Break down complex information into manageable segments. |
Coherence Principle: Exclude unnecessary information. Redundancy Principle: Avoid presenting the same information in multiple formats. Image Principle: Avoid unnecessary talking head video in slides. Combine visuals and voice. |
Multimedia Principle: Use verbal and visual elements together. Modality Principle: Use spoken words with visuals rather than text with visuals. Spatial Contiguity Principle: Place related content close together. Temporal Contiguity Principle: Synchronize narration and visuals. Signaling Principle: Highlight main ideas to guide attention. |
The strategies presented here are informed by Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and are intended as ideas and suggestions rather than rigid prescriptions. The key is to adapt these principles based on various factors, including your course content, delivery format (in-person, hybrid, online), student needs, learning outcomes, and flexible learning principles.
Strategies to Reduce the Cognitive Load
Pre-training Principle
This principle recommends providing foundational knowledge before introducing complex concepts. This is a good strategy to manage intrinsic cognitive load as you equip learners with important background information. Pre-training allows students to focus on understanding new material without being overwhelmed by prerequisites. This approach not only simplifies the learning process, but also sets the stage for deeper comprehension and engagement. Refer to the example below to see how pre-training can help learners navigate complex subjects effectively:
Pre-training Example: The Socratic Method
| Scenario | Details | Learner Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Without Pre-training | The Socratic Method is a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals. It aims to stimulate critical thinking and draw out ideas and underlying assumptions. | Learners may feel overwhelmed because they lack context. Some questions they can ask are: What is an argumentative dialogue? Who was Socrates? Why does this method matter? Without a relevant background or scaffolding, learners may feel lost or overwhelmed, particularly if they are unfamiliar with critical thinking or philosophical discussions. These gaps lead to confusion and difficulty in understanding the term fully. |
| With Pre-training | Let’s first understand the basics of Socrates and his method: Who was Socrates? A Greek philosopher from the 5th century BCE, known for his unique way of questioning and seeking truth. What is the Socratic Method? A way of learning through questioning and dialogue to challenge ideas and reveal contradictions or gaps in reasoning. Why is it important? Socrates believed that through questioning, people could arrive at a clearer understanding of concepts. | Learners could feel more confident and curious because they have foundational knowledge about Socrates and the purpose of his method. This makes it easier to grasp its significance. |
Assignment Instructions
Task: Using what you’ve learned about the Socratic Method, complete the following assignment:
- Using the foundational knowledge about Socrates and the Socratic Method, write a dialogue exploring a belief or concept (e.g., justice, freedom, happiness) with 6-8 exchanges of questions and answers, and provide a brief reflection on how the dialogue challenged assumptions and led to deeper insights.
Segmenting Principle
Break complex information into smaller, logical segments to reduce intrinsic cognitive load. Focus on manageable portions to help learners better grasp each concept before moving on to the next one. Design materials that are clear to understand. Refer to the example below to see how chunking can make learning more effective. The arrows show how the appropriate use of headings, sub-headings and bullet points not only can help readers to better digest the information, but they can also serve to better organize and present text.
Signaling Principle
Highlight relevant elements in a digital text using visual cues, such as arrows to guide learners’ attention and reduce the extraneous cognitive load. By focusing their attention on relevant features (like where to click to submit an assignment) students are less likely to feel overwhelmed or confused. Consider the example below to see how signaling can simplify navigation in Brightspace and make the learning process more efficient and intuitive.
Coherence Principle
Simplifying content presentation is key to reducing the extraneous cognitive load. Overloading learners with unnecessary details, excessive links, or irrelevant visuals can make digital text overwhelming and impede focus on the main material. For example, this Brightspace page below demonstrates how cluttered digital text, filled with links and distractions, can impact comprehension. To emphasize clarity, use links sparingly and only when necessary, such as for accessibility or essential references:
Simplifying the presentation of information is critical for reducing extraneous cognitive load. In the context of visuals and charts, presenting a chart overloaded with too many data points can overwhelm learners and distract them from the essential message. Instead, a simplified pie chart that only focuses on the most relevant data can ensure clarity and allow learners to process the information more effectively.
Refer to the image below to visualize how simplifying a pie chart can make information more digestible.
Modality Principle
This principle focuses on how information is presented. Specifically, it emphasizes using spoken words with visuals, rather than combining visuals with written text. The idea is to optimize how learners process information by engaging both auditory and visual channels. For example, a diagram explained through narration (rather than text on the same screen) allows learners to focus on the visual while simultaneously processing the audio.
Multimedia Principle
This principle is about what combination of media to use. It advocates for using both words and visuals, instead of just words alone. For example, instead of presenting a block of text, you include a supporting image, diagram, or video alongside the text or narration. This helps learners to better understand the content by providing complementary information through different forms of media. Notice how the combination of media types (words + visuals vs. words only) can enhance attention and learning.
