Cognitive Load Theory

Biologically Primary and Secondary Knowledge

David Geary, a cognitive developmental and evolutionary psychologist, established the distinction between biologically primary and secondary knowledge. Primary knowledge is knowledge humans have evolved to acquire over countless generations. We acquire it easily, automatically, and unconsciously simply by being members of a functioning society. Examples are learning to recognize faces, learning to listen to and speak a first language, or learning basic, general problem-solving skills. Primary knowledge is modular. We are likely to have evolved to acquire one category of primary knowledge such as learning to speak at a different epoch from another category of primary knowledge such as learning to recognize faces, and the cognitive process [Page 116]involved in both may be very different. Because primary knowledge is acquired automatically, it does not need to be explicitly taught, and thus, should not be part of formal curricula.

Biologically secondary knowledge is knowledge that is important for cultural reasons. We have not specifically evolved to acquire any particular example of secondary knowledge. Examples can be found in virtually every topic taught in every educational institution. Educational and training institutions were invented to teach biologically secondary knowledge.

Unlike primary knowledge, secondary knowledge is not modular with the same system required for all forms of secondary knowledge. It is not acquired automatically but, rather, requires conscious thought and effort. It should be taught using direct, explicit instruction. Reading and writing are examples of biologically secondary knowledge, and unlike listening and speaking, learners need to be explicitly taught how to read and write. Biologically secondary knowledge can be heavily influenced by relevant, biologically primary knowledge.

The human cognitive architecture used by cognitive load theory, and discussed in the next section, applies to biologically secondary knowledge. It applies only partly to biologically primary knowledge.

Human Cognitive Architecture

Human cognition is a natural information processing system. Biological evolution also can be considered a natural information processing system, and as a consequence, both evolutionary biology and human cognition process information in an analogous fashion. There are many ways of describing the basics of natural information processing systems. In this entry, five principles are used—information store principle, borrowing and reorganizing principle, randomness as genesis principle, narrow limits of change principle, and environmental organizing and linking principle—each of which is discussed next.

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