The Three Types of Cognitive Load - Essay Example

?Chapter 3 Focus Questions What are three types of cognitive load? The cognitive capa of the human brain is its ability to process the sensory input information it receives primarily through visual and auditory perception, and secondarily from other sensory capabilities such as taste, touch and smell, and the mental energy required to do so. Load literally means the amount and intensity of such sensory inputs to the brain. The three types of cognitive load include the intrinsic, extraneous and the germane loads. Intrinsic cognitive load depends upon the nature, intensity and the complexity of the subject to which the individual is exposed and is dependent upon prior knowledge and perspectives on a specific topic. Extraneous cognitive load refers to the extra load presented in the form of input which is irrelevant to the topic primarily being addressed in the learning process. Germane cognitive load is one which facilitates the learning by association or sequencing the sensory inputs into meaningful units for the learner. Why should designers focus on working memory? Designers should focus on the working memory because it is that part of the memory where the information is held for a few seconds and organized into rational structures, which if reinforced with germane cognition can lead to a permanent impression in the long term memory, the latter being permanent in nature (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968). Working memory cannot hold more than 4-7 units during an interval of time and the visual artist should be able to identify the best visual and auditory inputs, structured into chunks, to have the maximum cognitive effect. Moreover, it is the working memory faction of human cognition where the information processing takes place. The auditory and the visual channels also act in cohesion at this juncture for maximum impact (Pavio, 1990). Moreover, the episodic buffer is also created in the working memory area where the integration of visual and auditory inputs takes place (Baddeley, 2000). What is the relationship between selection, organization, and integration and figure-ground, hierarchy, and closure? The information processing theory suggests that the sensory input is processed selectively in the working memory where it gets organized into rational cues which interact with previous individual impressions’ and memory to form a cognitive pattern which may or may not be taken up by the long term memory. Selection, therefore involves filtration of the received sensory inputs in order to unburden the brain from information load. The subject involuntarily even selects the information which he or she is not at all aware about previously and this should be the focus of concentration for a creative visual designer. The intended informational input should therefore be structured in a manner so that it is aimed at the normal grasping or perceiving capability of the human brain. Organization of the provided inputs takes place according to the preexistent knowledge and the ability of the learner to grasp the meaning of the visual and auditory inputs into meaningful patterns which can be sustained for a long term impact. Integration of the provided visual and auditory inputs takes place in the working memory where they act upon simultaneously. Verbal and visual inputs when provided together are better integrated than when provided following each other. The figure ground principle suggests that the human mind is structured to perceive and separate the figure elements from the ground elements i.e. particular shapes elicit particular responses without going into the details of the object. Hierarchical organization of information takes place according to categorization of information into layers according to the degree of importance placed on them. When sensory inputs are organized into a perceptible pattern, the whole information is more than the sum of its parts as suggested by the gestalt theory. In that case, a person with past experience can visualize the ‘whole’ even when provided with part information, which is described by the gestalt closure principle. Web Activity: Image with a High Intrinsic Load (Picture Courtesy: http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/617236-ipo-candy/76922-broadsoft-bsft-still-no-bargain-at-9) Justification: The above image which has been shown as a company snapshot has a very high intrinsic load and not easily comprehensible for a casual viewer. Only the company insiders’ or organizational experts’ familiar with such type of charts may understand it, but only after concentrating on each worded and visual aspect of the illustration. The links, words and captions are not self explanatory and the whole snapshot shows very poor selection, organization as well as integration. Challenge Activity Justification The above figure illustrates how the three types of memories work collectively to exert a permanent effect on the human subject. As described in this chapter, sensory memory provides the inputs which are selected, organized and integrated in the short term memory, resulting in a conceptual perception with a lasting impact when the relevant information is stored in the long term memory. This visual design satisfies the criteria for depicting the interaction which takes place in the mind for an intended and permanent effect. The illustration is simple, shows a funnel which yields the end result, and is free from high intrinsic load. Chapter 4 Focus Questions What is the ACE process, and how does it work? The ACE process represents the abbreviated term for the sequential steps involved in the creation of instructional visuals. The abbreviation represents the three vital steps - Analyze, Create and Evaluate, which operate in a cyclic fashion. The most difficult step in the ACE process is the initial part when a start has to be made. The visual artist is supposed to frame a concept for the target instructional visual through a creative step using one’s inherent knowledge as well as imagination. At the beginning, analysis involves identification of the actual instructional function for which the visual creation is required, short listing of the content and the decision to choose either an artistic or a heuristic approach towards the intended design. The creation step is the next in which the visual idea is actually generated using whatever media which is available at hand. It can be a piece of paper and pen, or the modern software with their versatile tools and properties. The creative process involves working with identified Principles, undertaking appropriate actions and using the tools at one’s disposal. Creation is followed by the important step of evaluation which identifies whether the purpose and the intent of the creation is achieved and justified or not. Evaluation checks the effectiveness, appeal and the efficiency of the created design, ideally through participation of members of the intended audience. Proper evaluation can lead to identification of faults and lacunae within the design, prompting the artist to make changes based on the purpose, intent and effectiveness of the design. How does a designer move from analysis to concrete form, from the invisible to the visible? A designer first needs to understand the type of visual design needed for the specified purpose, whether it is an instructional or performance enhancing visual. On a blank palette the designer needs to identify the ingredients or any related material like words, pictures or phrases relevant to the objective of the visual design. The conscious as well as the subconscious mind should focus on the task at hand and every relevant material should be explored until a fine list of the ingredients is shortlisted. The ingredients are then strategically placed into an order using a strategy employing synectics and integration. Analogies, relationships need to be incorporated into the design until the idea for the design emerges. The elements then need to be visualized and transformed into concrete form by using the tools available at hand. What is the PAT model? The PAT model is a design framework which utilizes the three primary principles for instructional designers’ i.e. selection, organization and integration after the desired purpose for the design has been conceptualized. The graphics, words and phrases are carefully selected, organized into a coherent structure and then integrated into the design by actions i.e. woven into the interpretable design comprehensible to the end users. The design is then transformed into concrete shape by utilizing the tools, which are the basic design elements used by the designer such as lines, graphics, words, phrases and paragraphs and make liberal use of type, shape, color, depth and shape, the latter all identified as tools too. What does CARP stand for? CARP stands for contrast, alignment, repetition and proximity and emphasize the stress that has to be placed on the constituent elements of the design utilizing these qualities. These are basically the actions which the designer undertakes in order to impart coherence and comprehensibility for the end user. Contrast lends a striking out effect which is obvious at first glance, alignment is provided to show relationships between elements, repetition is used to reinforce the purpose of the visual and proximity is important for showing the inter dependence of one element on the other. What is the relationship between PAT, CARP and ACE? All three abbreviations are interrelated in a manner which makes it difficult to separate them from each other. ACE involves analysis, creation and evaluation. PAT and CARP are integral parts of the creation process. Principles, actions and tools involve the designing process in its totality and CARP is the methodology for emphasizing and accentuating the constituent elements of the visual design. Why are the concepts of contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity considered actions? These concepts are considered as actions because they are undertaken by the instructional designer to provide coherence to the end product in relation to its objective. They are included in the action part of the PAT model. By providing contrast, the artist tries to grab attention to a particular facet of the visual design; alignment allows a relationship between similar elements of the design, repetition also establishes the relationship and proximity groups’ similar elements together. Do you use all four actions in every visual? Each visual is unique in its purpose and content. When the elements are few, it is not necessary to use all four actions to convey the meaning when a simple statement, word or picture can do. Used individually, each action is pertinent to the nature and content of the visual design and therefore an innovative designer can choose the most appropriate action. Web Activity Use of the PAT model to depict 80% of sales by 20% of salesmen Part of the problem with this visual is that it does not show the whole picture first – the salesmen are separated but not seen as one whole group who are part of one group of salesmen first. It would be more effective to employ gestalt, where the learner sees parts to whole. 40% -----------------20%-------------------------- 40% (Characters Courtesy: http://stkarnick.com/culture/2007/07/27/the-simpsons-movie/; http://www.fotosearch.com/clip-art/raised-arm.html) Justification: The lower visual design shows that 80 % of the sales (40 + 40) are achieved by the two happy salesmen, and the rest 20% by the tentative, unhappy salesmen who are grouped together. The lower visual design incorporates PAT in creating an effective, efficient and appealing method for projecting the visual. Web Activity The following visual was prepared in Chapter 2 to explain the preparation of cocoa to a non English speaking audience: + 3 The above visual can be tested by asking 5 non English speaking to participate in evaluating it for the meaning it is supposed to convey. Although from the designer’s viewpoint the sequential pictures are coherent, the uninformed person may not perceive that a microwave is used for heating. Some may misinterpret what the cocoa picture and the spoon depict, although the final cup of cocoa offers a significant hint. Based on participant response the design can be improved into a better graphical representation using better tools and minimizing the sequential complexity. References IPO Candy's Instablog, Retrieved January 23, 2012 from: http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/617236-ipo-candy/76922-broadsoft-bsft-still-no-bargain-at-9 Raised arm clipart and illustrations, Retrieved January 24, 20102 from: http://www.fotosearch.com/clip-art/raised-arm.html The Simpsons Movie, Retrieved January 24, 2012 from: http://stkarnick.com/culture/2007/07/27/the-simpsons-movie/ Read More