Levels of Expertise and Instructional Design

Abstract

Cognitive load theory assumes that information should be structured to eliminate any avoidable load on working memory in order to enhance learning. We hypothesized that the appropriate type of structure may depend on the learner's level of expertise. Less expert learners using a diagram might require the diagram to be physically integrated with related text-based information in order to reduce cognitive load. However, the same diagram might be intelligible in isolation by more experienced learners, who might require the elimination of redundant text to reduce cognitive load. The results of three experiments indicated that as level of expertise increased, the best instructional designs changed from ones in which diagrams and text were physically integrated to ones in which the text was eliminated.