Less is More: The Cognitive Benefits of Simplicity in Educational Technology
By Joy VerPlanck, DET
I remember the first time I rolled out a learning management system (LMS). At that time, the company I worked for was embracing new technologies during an era when Blackberry phones were all the rage and computer-based training was just gaining momentum. Investing in educational technology was a bold move reserved for only the most forward-thinking companies.
That LMS, loaded with hundreds of e-learning modules, was supposed to solve every problem we didn’t even know we had. Brimming with optimism, we announced the initiative in the company newsletter and promised smooth sailing ahead. Employees were encouraged to carve out time during their workday to complete courses—some for compliance, others for their own personal growth. It was positioned as fast, simple, and fun—an easy win for our tech-savvy team.
Yet a week later we saw only a handful of logins and even fewer course completions. Calls started coming in, but they weren’t full of praise. Instead, employees expressed frustration, struggling with the clunky system rather than leveraging it for learning. "I don’t want to learn a new system; I just need to know how to create an Excel formula for this proposal. Can you just show me how?" they asked. What was intended to be a solution had instead added another layer of complexity to their already challenging jobs—and it made my job harder, too.
From Overload to Understanding: Embracing Simplicity
This situation is a familiar scenario in education—where well-meaning initiatives lead to a full plate of useless offerings, and we’re told to ‘be grateful and eat before it gets cold.’ The allure of advanced educational technology can sometimes overshadow its real purpose: to facilitate learning. So, how do we offer our students powerful tools without overwhelming their minds? The answer, it turns out, lies in simplicity—and cognitive science backs this up.
In educational design, we often discuss ‘cognitive load’—the mental effort required to process information. Cognitive load theory tells us that most people can only hold about four pieces of information in their working memory at once—like trying to hold four bites of food in your mouth at once. If you attempt a fifth, you might find it overwhelming and unable to properly chew any of it, let alone enjoy it. Our brains function similarly. When too much information is presented all at once, it's difficult to process effectively, and inevitably, some details are lost. But if we receive information in manageable bites—much like a well-paced meal—we can fully digest and appreciate each piece.
Think of it this way: if you're expecting a student to use technology to learn new information, find homework instructions, download materials, and then upload their homework, but the platform they're using is buried under layers of unnecessary options and confusing design, their brain is burning valuable energy just figuring out the requirements instead of focusing on what they’re learning. And it’s no surprise to any educator reading this when I say that kids already have a lot to chew on—piling more onto their plates only makes it harder for them to take it all in.
Simplicity as a Cognitive Ally
As an educational technologist, you might find it amusing that despite all the high-tech tools I love to work with, my favorite piece of educational technology is often my pen. It’s the simplest of tools, yet it serves its purpose flawlessly: capturing those a-ha moments, connecting new ideas, and developing strategies without any distractions. The schema for using it is securely embedded in my long-term memory, reducing cognitive load and making its use almost instinctual while I build my brain with new content.
This idea of focusing on content over technology taps into an ongoing debate that’s familiar to many educators—the Clark vs. Kozma debate. Richard Clark famously argued that media are merely vehicles for delivering instruction and don’t directly influence learning, emphasizing that it’s the instructional design, not the technology, that truly matters. On the other hand, Robert Kozma contended that media and technology, when used effectively, can enhance learning by fostering deeper engagement and more dynamic interactions.
In many ways, simplicity in educational technology aligns with both sides of the Clark vs. Kozma debate. A well-designed tool, whether as basic as a pen or as complex as an LMS, should stay out of the learner’s way and let the learning happen naturally. When technology is simple and unobtrusive, it acts as an invisible guide, enhancing learning without ever overshadowing the material. Kozma’s vision of technology transforming education works when the tools are intuitive and accessible, but as Clark reminds us, it’s the instructional design and content that matter most.
The beauty of simplicity is that it allows us to focus on the learning process itself. Behind the scenes, educators can leverage powerful features like AI-driven learning paths, progress tracking, and engagement analytics. Yet, for the students, the experience remains seamless and straightforward, allowing them to fully engage with the material without being distracted by the technology.
Simplicity in educational technology doesn’t just benefit students—it transforms the educator’s experience as well. Teachers want to focus on what matters: inspiring curiosity, fostering understanding, and challenging students to think critically. When they’re not bogged down by unnecessarily complicated systems, they can dedicate more energy to those efforts.
Simplicity Isn't the Absence of Complexity—It's the Presence of Clarity
At the heart of effective teaching is connection—between educator and student, between student and content. When technology becomes too complex, it risks severing those connections. The power of simplicity lies in its ability to clear the path for those connections to flourish.
In today’s modern, tech-driven classroom, it’s easy to get caught up in the race for more tools and innovation. But when choosing an LMS, simplicity is key. Here’s the test—don’t just watch an expert use it; hand it to a novice. If they don’t choke on the first bite, it’s probably safe to keep chewing.
This article was crafted by Joy VerPlanck, an independent contributor engaged by CheckIT Labs, Inc. to provide insights on this topic.
