Cognitive Load and Its Major Pedagogical Implications, Focus on Education in Jordan
Abstract
Through my teaching experience in Jordan, I noticed the amount of work students had to do. I noticed the tremendous amount information they received from their teachers on a daily basis. I also noticed that students forgot most of the information they learned in class right after their exams. I was wondering if that’s the right way of teaching. Then, after my study at SIT, I learned that this is a cognitive overload that can impair the learning process.
Cognitive load refers to the information processing abilities in the human memory system which has limitations. When these limitations are exceeded, students suffer from cognitive overload. This is what made me come to the conclusion that students in Jordan are cognitively overloaded.
In this thesis, I will explore the Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) and make a connection between the CLT and the education system in Jordan. I will also talk about the reforms that have been carried out, taking into consideration new theories of learning including the Cognitive Load Theory.