Cognitive Load Theory and Employee Training

DAVE ANDERSON | 5 MIN READ

Thinking back, you can probably recall a class in school where you were always a couple of steps behind the teacher’s lecture. Or perhaps you’ve read a book that was so dense, you struggled to keep up with the plot.

It wasn’t until you reviewed the notes from the lecture or reread a few pages of the book that a clear picture formed. In a perfect world, things would click right away but that is not how the memory works. Information needs to be learned, or more accurately “processed.” And the human brain can only process a few pieces of information at a time.

In psychology, this concept is known as Cognitive Load Theory. In this article, you’ll learn what this theory entails and how you can create a training program that doesn’t overwhelm your employees.