Substantive Post

One of the key takeaways from the reading and resources was how much our brains can manage at once. Mayer’s Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning stood out, especially the concept of cognitive load (extraneous, intrinsic, and germane). As his theory states, “if our brains are overloaded by intrinsic and extraneous load, there is little space for good learning” (Fyfield, 2018). This connects with Dual Coding Theory, which suggests that combining words and images helps us understand and retain information. Comics are a great example of this as they provide a good balance between words and pictures, which allows our brains to make better sense of the input, helping students synthesize information, retain knowledge, and stay motivated (Apostolou, Linardatos, 2023). 

As an elementary teacher, I have at times unintentionally incorporated intrinsic and extraneous loads into my teaching, leading to confusion. While teaching a grade 2 measurement unit, I had assumed that my students knew how to properly use their rulers. While some already understood, others quickly became disengaged because the cognitive effort needed to understand the strategies while also completing a task became too challenging. A similar issue arose with extraneous load. At the beginning of my practicum, I had designed slides for a science unit on matter; however, the slides were textually dense with few images. The lack of white space caused students to become disengaged. As I improved in my teaching, I learned to present lessons in manageable chunks with simple supporting images. This resulted in high student engagement and meaningful learning. 

This same concept can be applied when I design my own comic. It is key to focus on simple, yet engaging photos with clear and concise text that make it easy for the reader to follow. Similarly to the classroom, lots of information at once can overwhelm students; however, focusing on one simple idea per panel allows for readers to more easily absorb the information. 

Fyfield, Matt. “Cognitive Load Theory 3 – Intrinsic, Extraneous, Germane.” YouTube, YouTube, 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkH0EGYqWO0. 

Granchelli, A. (n.d.). Theories of multimedia learning. University of Victoria Educational Technology. https://edtechuvic.ca/edci337/2025/09/05/theories-of-multimedia-learning/  

Apostolou, Dimitris, and Linardatos, Gerasimos. “Cognitive Load Approach to Digital Comics Creation: A Student-Centered Learning Case.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 5 July 2023, www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/13/7896.