Lower cognitive load before you raise difficulty

Cognitive load is the mental effort used in working memory. In training delivery, three loads matter: intrinsic load from the task itself, extraneous load from poor presentation, and germane effort used to build useful schemas. You cannot remove the real complexity of a difficult skill. You can remove the accidental complexity you add. Use clean screens, stable labels, short segments, and one decision point at a time. Demonstrate before asking novices to perform. Pause after each chunk to let learners process, retrieve, or ask. A good delivery plan asks: what must be difficult because the work is difficult, and what…

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