Load Dynamics -- The Extraneous Brake and the Germane Flywheel¶
Run the Load Dynamics Diagram Fullscreen
About This MicroSim¶
This causal loop diagram shows two opposing dynamics in cognitive load theory. B1 (Extraneous Brake) shows how extraneous load crowds out germane-load capacity, weakening schema construction, which keeps effective capacity low and intrinsic load high -- a design-quality failure that compounds. R1 (Germane Flywheel) shows the productive loop: germane-load capacity drives schema construction, schemas enable chunking that expands effective working-memory capacity, lower intrinsic load frees more germane capacity, and the cycle accelerates. Germane-load capacity is the shared pivot node where both loops compete.
Diagram Details¶
graph LR
EL["Extraneous Load"]:::b1 -->|"−"| GLC["Germane-Load Capacity"]:::shared
GLC -->|"+"| SC["Schema Construction"]:::r1
SC -->|"+ with delay"| EWM["Effective Working-Memory Capacity"]:::r1
EWM -->|"−"| ILN["Intrinsic Load of Next Task"]:::r1
ILN -->|"−"| GLC
GLC -->|"+"| LP["Learner Performance"]:::r1
EL -->|"−"| LP
B1[" B1: Extraneous Brake -- balancing, corrosive "]:::looplabel
R1[" R1: Germane Flywheel -- reinforcing "]:::looplabel
classDef b1 fill:#E8795A,stroke:#C0392B,color:#fff
classDef r1 fill:#4A90D9,stroke:#2C5F8A,color:#fff
classDef shared fill:#7B8D8E,stroke:#4A6163,color:#fff
classDef looplabel fill:none,stroke:none,color:#555,font-size:12px