Cognitive overload refers to a state that can happen during learning where students struggle to process and store new information in memory. Teaching that actively manages cognitive load has a positive impact on students’ ability to engage with learning tasks and, more importantly, to retain what they have learned as part of those tasks. Cognitive load affects all learners, in all contexts, but can be managed with effective teaching approaches to optimise achievement and outcomes of learning.

This explainer provides a brief introduction to cognitive load, focusing on ways to manage it for effective and efficient learning. Related explainers with similar implications for effective teaching practices and related policies introduce the role of knowledge in the learning process and the positive impact of explicit instruction.