A study on cognitive load and related factors at e-PBL

Abstract

The focus of this research is on identifying the problems that learners experience during online problem-based learning (e-PBL) from a cognitive perspective. The study is concentrated on learners’ cognitive load level at each stage of e-PBL. The research questions are specifically as follows: What is the level of cognitive load at each stage of e-PBL and what is the relationship between cognitive load and group performance? What cognitive difficulties are experienced by learners in e-PBL and what causes cognitive difficulties? In this study, we found that cognitive load was the highest in stage 1 and there was negative relationship between cognitive load at stage 1 and group performance. In addition, learners experienced difficulties during e-PBL such as the complexity of task, the difficulty in collaboration, and the lack of appropriate references. For further study, we will investigate some strategies regarding adjusting learners’ cognitive load in the early stages of e-PBL.