The total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory1.
There are three types of cognitive load2:
- intrinsic: aspects of the task fundamental to the problem space
- extrinsic: environment where the task is being done
- germane: aspects of the task that need special attention for learning or high performance
Seek to minimize intrinsic and extrinsic load, leaving room for germane load2.
Assessing Cognitive Load
Ask the question: “Do you feel like you’re effective and able to respond in a timely fashion to the work you are asked to do?”2.
1. Sweller, J. Cognitive Load During Problem Solving: Effects on Learning. Cognitive Science 12, 257–285 (1988).
2. Skelton, M., Pais, M. & Malan, R. Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow. (IT Revolution Press, Portland, OR, 2019).