{"id":3342,"date":"2017-12-05T09:48:40","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T09:48:40","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-10-27T10:32:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T10:32:07","slug":"stop-overwhelming-learners-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capytech.com\/en\/blog\/stop-overwhelming-learners-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop Overwhelming Learners with These Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Stop Overwhelming Learners with These Tips<\/strong><\/h1>

Here’s a frustrating scenario you may have encountered: you create a visually stunning e-learning course<\/a> packed full of on-topic content that you think explains exactly what the learner needs. They don’t get it though, so the results of the course are disappointing. One of the problems could be that you\u2019re overwhelming learners.<\/p>

There’s psychology behind this and it’s called cognitive load. It is a theory developed in the 1980s by John Sweller<\/a>, an educational psychologist from Australia. In simple terms, cognitive load theory says learners can only process a certain amount of information. Once you go over that, you overload and overwhelm them.<\/p>

Cognitive Load Theory Explained in Brief<\/strong><\/h2>

According to the theory, the following three types of cognitive load exist:<\/p>

  1. Intrinsic \u2013 where the content is too complex<\/li>
  2. Extraneous \u2013 where the learning material makes it more difficult for the learner to learn<\/li>
  3. Germane \u2013 when there is nothing in the course that helps the learner learn<\/li><\/ol>

    How to Stop Overwhelming Learners When the Content is Complex<\/strong><\/h2>

    Intrinsic cognitive load is self-explanatory and there is not much you can do about it \u2013 if the topic is complex, it\u2019s complex. One thing that can help in some situations is to do a pre-assessment of learners before they take the e-learning course. This will tell you whether they have the necessary knowledge foundation to complete the complex elements.<\/p>

    They will eventually, however, have to complete the complex material. As a result, you need to reduce the other two types of cognitive load as much as possible.<\/p>

    How to Stop Getting in the Way of Learners<\/strong><\/h2>

    While there may not be much you can do about intrinsic cognitive load, the other two types of cognitive load are within the control of the e-learning course designer.<\/p>

    An example of extraneous cognitive load is when you don’t use the appropriate media to explain a concept. For example, explaining what a hexagon looks like using words instead of showing an image of a hexagon.<\/p>

    So, to reduce overwhelming learners through extraneous cognitive load, remove or change anything that actively hinders their progress.<\/p>

    Here are some tips:<\/p>