John Sweller (1988)
Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257-285.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4
Abstract. The founding paper of cognitive load theory. Shows that problem-solving strategies impose heavy working-memory load that interferes with the schema acquisition needed for learning, and introduces the distinction between intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load.
Tags: cognitive-load foundational