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Introduction
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A task can be difficult because the idea itself is complex. It can also be difficult because the information is scattered, the instructions are unclear, or you must remember details that could have been written down.
Mental load refers to the demands an activity places on your available mental resources. In learning, cognitive load is often discussed in relation to the limited information a person can hold and work with at a time.
The useful question is which demands belong to understanding the subject and which demands come from the way the task has been arranged. Reducing unnecessary demands can leave more room for the thinking the activity actually requires.