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Minimize Cognitive Load when Teaching New Topics

Tags

All Ages Strategy

Skills

Working Memory Verbal Reasoning Abstract Reasoning

Minimize Cognitive Load when Teaching New Topics

If your student has weaker working memory or reasoning and you are introducing complex information

How To Apply It!

  1. You can help students learn new information by minimizing the amount of effort required with their weaker skills.
  2. For students with weaker reasoning skills, review previously learned material first and then connect it to the new information being introduced.
  3. For students with weaker attention, minimize auditory and visual distractions.
  4. If a student has better visual memory, use as many pictures and images as possible.
  5. If a student has weaker listening skills, provide notes or accompanying text to support spoken information.
  6. If a student has strong memory, encourage them to memorize as much of the basic information as possible.
  7. If a student has weaker memory, help them find connections to understand the material so they do not need to memorize as much.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Too much stress is never good in general, particularly for students trying to learn. The best way to help students learn is to understand their strengths and then try to focus instruction and new learning on ways that will allow them to rely on their strengths and minimize reliance on their weaker skills. This approach will build confidence, increase efficiency, and result in much more enjoyable learning and better outcomes.The process of learning new information requires focus and the ability to make connections between previously learned concepts and the new information. Mindprint provides plenty of specific coping strategies for each weak cognitive skill, which can be found by a quick search on cognitive skill.