The debate about whether the capacity of working memory (WM) varies with the complexity of memory items continues. This study employed novel experimental materials to investigate the role of complexity in WM capacity. Across seven experiments, we explored the relationship between complexity and WM capacity. The results indicated that the…

Although satisfaction with academic experience in the context of higher education has been an area of research for nearly 40 years, it is still unclear how pedagogical practices in the development of thinking skills are related to students' satisfaction. This study aims to investigate the relationships between students' satisfaction and the levels…

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Citadel transitioned from a face-to-face to an emergency online modality. We conducted a study to track changes in self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) among engineering students during the Spring 2020 semester, including trends based on demographic, performance, and cognitive load factors. SDLR was…

This study explores how pre-service mathematics teachers' spatial visualisation skills evolved during a Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) based education. The study used the qualitative theory-testing case study method, which guided the identification of participants, the design of technology-supported education, and the data collection and analysis…

Human space exploration is entering a new era through the design of missions that venture further from earth for longer durations, such as missions to the Moon and Mars. Mission success during long duration exploration missions (LDEM) requires astronauts to flawlessly execute exceptionally complex skills across a multitude of tasks, presenting new…

When faced with challenging thinking tasks accompanied by a feeling of uncertainty, people often prefer to opt out (e.g., replying "I don't know", seeking advice) over giving low-confidence responses. In professions with high-stakes decisions (e.g., judges, medical practitioners), opting out is generally seen as preferable to making…

Purpose: The study investigated the complex dynamics of employees balancing professional responsibilities with academic pursuits and its impact on the qualities of their work-life balance as well as their acquisition of academic knowledge and skills. Design/methodology/approach: Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 575 workers…

This study investigated the effects of a practice checklist on performance achievement, practice time, focal practice areas--the key musical elements students focused on during practice--and practice strategies among non-music major South Korean college students learning the "Danso," a traditional Korean wind instrument. Ninety-six…

As most of the life-threatening events, such as heart failure and trauma, occur out-of-hospital, first aid is considered crucial for a victim's survival chances. Unfortunately, a substantial part of these psychomotor or consciously brain-controlled motor skills are executed poorly or incorrectly due to the inexperience of first aid attendants or…

This study investigated pedagogical agent (with/without) and feedback (explanatory/confirmatory) types on achievement, flow experience, and cognitive load in a digital game-based learning environment. We developed a game about spreadsheets and prepared four versions of the game in the context of pedagogical agent and feedback types. Through the…

This qualitative descriptive study investigated the experiences and professional outcomes of novice registered nurses participating in professional development nursing simulations integrating worked examples, a cognitive load instructional design principle. Drawing upon cognitive load theory and the worked examples principle, the study addressed…

Arithmetic word problems are a staple in mathematical curricula yet give individuals of all ages difficulty. Successful word problem solving requires translating the problem into a symbolic arithmetic format. However, the linguistic component may make problem solving more complex and increase cognitive load, specifically the processes that…

Holding learners' attention is challenging, especially when they are asked to listen to long passages. High-immersion virtual reality (VR) can immerse learners in listening tasks, even in such complex languages as Chinese. This exploratory study examined the effect of VR on 43 Chinese language learners' listening comprehension, enjoyment, sense of…

Background: In example-based learning, examples are often combined with generative activities, such as comparative self-explanations of example cases. Comparisons induce heavy demands on working memory, especially in complex domains. Hence, only stronger learners may benefit from comparative self-explanations. While static text-based examples can…

Play is critical in the development of cognitive and language skills in young children with autism; however, few studies have examined the impact of the intervention on the development of play skills. The current study aims to address the change in developmental skills, including play after participation in the JASPER intervention, and to examine…