Cognitive load refers to the mental effort required for information processing and task performance. The load experienced by students during learning activities affects their mental health. Poor mental health hampers learning engagement, retention, leading to stress, burnout, and future academic performance and overall well-being. Addressing cognitive load in education is crucial for promoting positive mental health outcomes for students.
In this lightning talk, we will discuss some practical ways to reduce cognitive load in Moodle course design and promote students’ mental health.
Organize Course Content:
Chunk information into digestible sections.
Use headings, and bullet points to structure content and improve readability.
Provide Clear Navigation:
Give students some navigation guidance by providing a “Start Here” section at the very beginning that includes important information for getting started successfully in the course.
Use consistent labeling and naming conventions for course components, reducing cognitive effort spent on finding specific resources.
Provide Context and Purpose
Providing clear learning objectives at the start of each module, and clear instructions for activities can help learners be more prepared and focused.
Minimize Long Scrolling
Use Page to display long descriptions on the main page
Put multiple files into a Folder resource
Personalized Learning Path
Use conditional activities and restrictions to create personalized learning paths based on individual student’s progress or performance.
By implementing these strategies, instructors can create Moodle courses that effectively manage cognitive load, promote students’ engagement and understanding, and contribute to their overall well-being and learning success.