Assistant Principal's 

News

Dear Parents 

Last week, Mr Anderson, Mrs Girgenti and myself attended a conference led by Viviane Robinson. Viviane is an distinguished emeritus professor at the University of Auckland, specialising in organisational and educational psychology.

Over the two days, we looked at leadership in schools and effective ways to ensure that we are fulfilling the proper purpose of education - to prepare our students to lead fulfilling lives by exercising autonomy within a thriving Catholic community. 

We found the conference incredibly fulfilling and empowering as we were validated in knowing that we continue to be on the right path at St Francis Xavier and our leadership team aligned with Viviane’s key message. 

An area that was a main focus was “Cognitive Load”. Our staff have been focusing on this theory during staff meetings and coaching cycles. Our focus is on ways to avoid the clutter and overload of short term memory and free up the space so that deep learning occurs and moves to a child’s long term memory. 

What is Cognitive Load?

Imagine your child's brain as a computer with limited processing power. Cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory. When the load is too high, learning becomes difficult or impossible.

There are three types of cognitive load:

• Intrinsic Cognitive Load: This is the inherent difficulty of the material itself. For example, learning calculus has a higher intrinsic load than learning basic arithmetic. We can't change the intrinsic load, but we can break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
• Extraneous Cognitive Load: This is unnecessary mental effort caused by poor instruction or design. For instance, a cluttered worksheet or confusing instructions increases extraneous load. This is where we can make a big difference!
• Germane Cognitive Load: This is the effort devoted to creating lasting knowledge, like connecting new information to existing knowledge. This is the good kind of load that leads to deeper understanding.

How Does Cognitive Load Affect Children?

Children, especially younger ones, often have a smaller working memory capacity than adults. When their cognitive load is too high, they may:

• Become easily frustrated or overwhelmed.
• Struggle to focus or pay attention.
• Have difficulty remembering information.

What Can Parents Do?

Here are some practical tips to help reduce extraneous cognitive load and promote germane load:

• Simplify Instructions: Break down tasks into smaller, clear steps. Use simple language and visual aids.
• Minimize Distractions: Create a quiet, organised study space. Remove clutter and unnecessary stimuli.
• Use Visuals: Diagrams, charts, and pictures can help make complex information easier to understand.
• Connect to Prior Knowledge: Help your child relate new information to what they already know. Ask questions like, "Does this remind you of anything else?"
• Provide Worked Examples: Show your child how to solve a problem step-by-step before asking them to try it independently.
• Encourage Active Recall: Instead of simply re-reading material, have your child try to recall information from memory. Quizzing and summarizing are great tools.
• Manage Time: Break study sessions into shorter, focused periods with breaks in between.
• Promote Organization: Help your child organize their materials and notes.

God Bless, 

Fiona