Less Is More: Multimedia Learning & Cognitive Load

Use multimedia-learning principles to reduce avoidable cognitive load, guide attention and design clearer slides, videos, LMS pages and digital explanations.

• Design for limited working memory — Learners cannot process unlimited new information at once, even when the screen makes it possible to display it.
• Use coherence: remove what does not earn attention — Interesting but irrelevant material can compete with the information learners actually need to process.
• Signal the important relationship and keep related ideas together — Learners should not have to search the screen to work out what goes with what.
• Segment complex explanations and pretrain what learners need — Learners understand complex multimedia more deeply when they can process it in manageable chunks and know key components first.
• Use multiple modes with judgement, not duplication — Words, visuals and audio can complement each other, but redundant channels can also create competition.