Consider your approach to student wellbeing and digital engagement towards reducing cognitive load.
Imagine this: a student sits down at their desk, ready to tackle an assignment. One tab has a list of PDF articles, another holds a playlist of YouTube videos, a third is open to an online quiz, and a fourth expands to three pages of instructions in an assignment brief. Just as they settle in, their phone pings with a reminder to submit their reflection journal for another module. That’s only two of the 8 assignments that are due before Christmas!
Now picture this same student frantically toggling between tabs, each one demanding attention: “Start with me!” They’re mentally juggling so many tasks that it’s less “productive learning” and more of a high-stakes circus act. No safety net. No Google Maps to guide the way. Just a growing sense of, “Where on earth do I even start?”
This is cognitive load at its finest. And let’s be honest, it’s exhausting for our students. What if we could offer them more than tools and resources? What if we could give them connection, clarity and a clear path forward?
Let’s start with Connection – The Emotional GPS: Reflect with Microsoft Education
Ask the question, “Is there anything preventing you from performing to your best?” “Let me know if there is something going on in your life that is distracting you” This is not a teacher turn counsellor moment, this is simply about care, awareness and building connections with students.
Enter Microsoft Reflect, a quiet hero in the world of educational tools. Reflect isn’t just about tracking emotions; it’s about giving students a moment to pause, breathe, and articulate how they’re feeling. Think of it as the emotional GPS for their learning journey.
With Reflect, students are prompted with a simple check-in: “How are you doing today?” They can choose emojis or descriptors to convey their emotions, how they are feeling and as such offering teachers a real-time snapshot of the class’s emotional wellbeing.
Imagine your student logging in, overwhelmed by tasks, but starting their day with a Reflect check-in. They pause, select “stressed,” and realise, perhaps for the first time, that they’re not alone. You glance at your Reflect dashboard and see that while some students feel “ready to conquer,” others are “feeling overwhelmed.” With this insight, you can tailor your approach – offering encouragement, empathy, or a well-timed break.
Reflect isn’t just a feel-good tool. It’s a way to foster connection, tailor support, and make wellbeing a cornerstone of the learning experience.
Wellbeing as the Foundation for Learning
When students feel safe, supported, and seen, they’re not just more likely to thrive academically – they’re more likely to engage deeply with their learning. Reflect is a small but powerful way to foster that sense of connection. It’s not just a tool for emotions; it’s a bridge of trust between educators and students.
And Reflect isn’t alone. Other interactive tools like Mentimeter can amplify student voice and help educators spot those who may need extra support.
Simplify: This check-in could be as simple as a walking debate or a quick wellbeing check into your digital lessons. Think emojis for a quick “How are you feeling today?” or a one-word response activity to capture the room’s mood.
The Circus Act of Cognitive Load
Now, let’s get back to the juggling act. Cognitive load – the mental toll of managing too much information – is a real obstacle to learning. For students, it’s like trying to build IKEA furniture without instructions: daunting, overwhelming, and sometimes tear-inducing.
Our job as educators is to be the Google Maps for their learning journeys, not the labyrinth designers. Here’s how we can help:
1. Simplify the Path:
Organise assignments and resources clearly in a single, intuitive platform like Microsoft Teams or OneNote. Think “Learning GPS,” not “Choose Your Own Adventure.”
2. Chunk It Down:
Break content into digestible pieces. Bite-sized videos, bullet-point summaries, and scaffolded instructions go a long way in easing mental strain.
3. Pair Emotional and Cognitive Check-Ins:
After students use Reflect to check in emotionally, guide them in mapping out their priorities for the day. This helps them tackle tasks without the “Where do I start?” panic.
A really simple place to start is to ask students how they feel. Pereira and Galdino created a simple Cognitive Load Scale:
Engagement That Energises
The goal isn’t to overwhelm students with flashy tools but to use technology purposefully. Engagement happens when students feel connected, capable, and clear about what’s expected.
- Curate with Care:
Select a few digital tools that are intuitive and valuable. OneNote, Wakelet and Padlet are great options for content curation – but don’t turn them into hurdles.
- Empower Choice:
Give students autonomy in how they engage – whether it’s submitting reflections through videos, participating in forums, or collaborating on shared documents.
- Build a Routine:
Consistency reduces anxiety. Incorporating Reflect and routine as a regular part of your lessons creates a familiar rhythm, helping students focus on learning rather than navigating.
Reducing Cognitive Load
Ah, cognitive load – one of the silent saboteurs of student engagement. When our brains are overloaded, even the simplest tasks feel monumental. In a digital world brimming with resources, it’s easy for students and teachers alike to feel like they’re juggling a million mental balls.
Here’s where thoughtful learning design comes in to promote learner agency. The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) remind us to simplify, streamline, and scaffold:
- Organise Content Visually:
Tools like Canva or even simple PowerPoint templates can help chunk information into digestible pieces.
- Offer Multimodal Content:
Pair text with videos, podcasts, or interactive activities to appeal to diverse learning preferences.
- Minimise Distractions:
Use tools that integrate seamlessly into your digital learning platform and avoid sending students on a scavenger hunt across ten different apps in an attempt to break the world record for mouse clicks.
Wrapping It All Up
In today’s ever-connected world, the promise of digital tools in education is vast – but so is the risk of overwhelming our learners. While technology can spark engagement, increase accessibility and transform classrooms, it also holds the potential to heighten stress and cognitive overload if we’re not intentional.
Our students don’t need a circus of digital tools or a maze of assignments. They need connection, clarity and care. Carefully considered content curation, paired with thoughtful digital engagement strategies, offers a pathway to lighten their cognitive load and strengthen their wellbeing.
Teach with intentionality; quality over quantity, less is more.
So, how are you feeling today? Let’s Reflect – and guide our students through their learning journeys with connection, humour, and a clear map for their journey of learning.
All the best!