Blended learning has become an increasingly popular way of teaching and learning. It combines traditional classroom-style instruction with online technology to offer learners more options for their training. However, too much of a good thing can be detrimental, as it can lead to cognitive overload for learners. Let’s start by examining blended learning and its benefits.
Blended learning
Blended learning is a teaching approach that combines face-to-face instruction with remote learning. It is designed to maximize the strengths of each type of learning and minimize its drawbacks. With blended learning, instructors are empowered to choose the best tools for individual learners and select the most suitable methods for reaching training objectives. This approach provides both physical and online components, creating an engaging environment that empowers learners of all backgrounds and levels.
Benefits of blended learning
Blended learning is a powerful tool that combines the best of both worlds—traditional and digital learning. By combining classroom instruction with online activities, blended learning can help learners gain knowledge and skills while avoiding cognitive overload.
Blended learning allows participants to learn at their own pace, allowing them to focus on the topics they need more help understanding while quickly mastering areas they already know. With this method, instructors are able to customize the curriculum and instruction for each learner’s individual needs. Additionally, it allows for flexible control over pacing and content for both instructors and learners.
Because of its efficiency, blended learning has been proven to reduce the cognitive overload caused by an overloaded schedule or trying to process too much information in one sitting. But blended learning can have its own cognitive overload challenges.
What is cognitive overload?
Cognitive overload occurs when an individual is overwhelmed by the amount of information they are taking in, making it difficult for them to process and comprehend what they’re learning. This often leads to a decrease in performance and can be especially problematic when using blended learning methods since there is a greater need to keep up with both online and offline instruction. To combat this issue, instructors should provide clear instructions on how best to manage workloads while still maintaining the standards necessary for effective blended learning.
Challenges of cognitive overload
Cognitive overload is a problem that has become increasingly prevalent in the era of blended learning. Since blended learning combines traditional classroom instruction with online training, it can lead to learners feeling overwhelmed and exhausted from all the different tasks they need to take on.
The challenges of cognitive overload include dealing with distractions, managing different types of content (text, audio, video), and keeping track of multiple tasks at once. Learners may also struggle with understanding complex concepts when presented through technology-based materials rather than face-to-face instruction. Additionally, they may need more time to get used to navigating digital platforms or find themselves overwhelmed by the volume of assignments they’re expected to complete within a given timeframe. Let’s explore some of the challenges a little more in depth.
1. Too much information
The first challenge of cognitive overload is too much information. With more educational material being available through digital means, it can be overwhelming for a learner’s brain to process everything they need to know for their courses. Not only does this mean having too much material spread across multiple platforms, but also dealing with complex assignments quickly without enough time for contemplation or analysis.
2. Dealing with distractions
Distractions come in many forms, from social media notifications to loud noises in the background. For learners, these interruptions can cause them to lose focus and even lower their overall engagement levels. Instructors must take measures to mitigate potential distractions within the classroom setting by taking steps such as monitoring participant activity and ensuring all devices are put away when not in use. Additionally, they should remind learners of their goals and encourage them to stay on task while engaging in blended learning activities.
3. Managing different types of content
As learners engage in blended learning environments, they are exposed to different kinds of content such as videos, lectures, discussions, and simulations. This presents a unique challenge for both instructors and participants; how do you effectively incorporate all these different elements into one cohesive learning experience? It requires careful planning by instructors as well as strong time-management skills from learners in order to avoid cognitive overload. Additionally, it may be beneficial for instructors to offer formative assessments throughout the course so that they can measure progress and ensure material comprehension.
4. Keeping track of multiple tasks at once
The very nature of blended learning requires multitasking between different platforms and activities. This means that participants must learn to manage their time effectively and prioritize what needs to be done first. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available on various platforms—this is the essence of cognitive overload. Being able to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently helps learners stay focused on their tasks—but it’s not always possible for everyone to do so.
5. Understanding complex concepts in an on-demand vs ILT setting
Blended learning presents a unique challenge for learners, as their minds can become overloaded by complex concepts when presented via live instruction and on-demand. For many, trying to understand the subject matter in both formats is too much to handle. As such, cognitive overload becomes an issue that must be addressed. When faced with complex concepts in an asynchronous or synchronous setting, learners may experience cognitive overload due to the need for sustained attention and focus. This can limit their capacity for recall, comprehension, and retention of material.
Thankfully, there are many ways to reduce the possibility of cognitive overload!
Strategies to reduce cognitive overload
Break learning down into digestible chunks
Instructors should break down the material into manageable chunks by using visual aids such as diagrams, charts, or presentations that illustrate key concepts and relationships. This ensures that learners have time to digest each section before moving on to the next one. Furthermore, they should also allow time for discussion among participants so they can share their thoughts on what they have learned and gain insight from others in their group. Along these same lines is the use of spaced repetition. Spaced repetition involves taking breaks between studying sessions in order to allow the material time to sink in.
Choose the right learning technology platforms
Choosing the right learning technology platforms can be difficult, but it’s essential for successful blended learning. Not all platforms are equal when it comes to features or usability, so it’s important to select one or more that work well for your needs. Consider factors like ease of use, scalability, and integrations with other software you might already be using. Having an intuitive learning platform that works well helps reduce the cognitive load on both instructors and learners.
Leverage synchronous learning time effectively
With the rise of remote and hybrid learning, asynchronous and synchronous learning will each play an important role in blended learning. It’s essential that learners practice self-moderation when engaging in synchronous activities, using tools like timers to avoid extended periods of concentration. Using active participation techniques such as polls and discussion boards can help create a more engaging environment. Additionally, distributed leadership strategies can help reduce cognitive overload by sharing the responsibility among multiple facilitators or instructors.
Incorporate asynchronous activities into your schedule
Incorporate asynchronous activities into your regular course schedule to give your learners a break from the constant stream of remote instruction. Asynchronous activities are beneficial because they provide fewer distractions and allow for more personalized learning experiences. Asynchronous activities also enable participants to work at their own pace and can provide extra practice with difficult concepts. Examples of asynchronous activities include online quizzes, multimedia resources (video lectures, podcasts, etc.), and individual research or projects.
Utilize assessments as part of your learning strategy
Assessments can be an extremely effective way to gauge learner understanding as part of your blended learning strategy. Incorporating regular assessments into your course structure provides feedback on progress, promotes better engagement, and helps ensure that participants are mastering the material in a timely fashion. Online quiz tools such as Socrative and Kahoot make it easier than ever to create dynamic assessments that accurately assess student understanding. Be sure to monitor analytics and results from your assessments so that you can tailor future instruction accordingly.
Conclusion: maximizing learning outcomes
With the introduction of blended learning, instructors have an opportunity to reduce cognitive overload for learners. Blended learning can offer a more balanced approach to training and help increase learner engagement and maximize learning outcomes.
Blended learning combines traditional instruction with digital activities that allow learners to interact with concepts in different ways. This type of instruction allows participants to take ownership of their own learning through self-paced, hands-on activities while providing scaffolding, feedback, and assessment from instructors. By introducing multiple approaches to knowledge acquisition, the instructor can create a more engaging environment while reducing the cognitive load on learners who may otherwise be overwhelmed by any one single activity or concept.
When designed effectively, blended learning opportunities can provide learners with digestible chunks of material that are easier for them to process and understand without overloading their working memories.
To prevent cognitive overload, instructors should take advantage of blended learning’s flexibility and tailor instruction to their learner’s needs. Activities should be designed to support goal-directed behavior and allow learners to explore topics in depth through various modalities. Build in regular check-ins with learners throughout the lesson—this helps ensure that concepts are understood and allows for timely intervention when needed. Additionally, providing access to online resources can help supplement instruction and give learners the opportunity to further explore topics they find interesting or difficult.
