Cognitive Load Management of Cultural Heritage Information: An Application Multi-Mix for Recreational Learners

Abstract

Under the umbrella of the SEE/B/0016/4.3/X Project SAGITTARIUS a new cultural heritage infrastructure has been introduced in South East Europe. The main aim is to facilitate cognitive-emotional experiences in cultural heritage environments by effectively communicating cultural values to non-captives audiences. A 3-component Roving Museum (RM) is operated in seven countries (GR, BG, HR, HU, IT, RO). The RM adapts to visitor needs in a constantly changing knowledge ecosystem implementing new ways of recreational learning and visitor satisfaction. It includes a QRC-driven portable exhibition with 110 cultural heritage narratives, accessible via QRCs in the territory, an app for iOS and Android, and a social media driven participatory space, to support contextual co-creation and participatory learning. A cognitive driven communication pattern has been developed and adapted to the conditions regulating the recreational learning environment. The pattern employs interrelated content segments in order to free the working memory (WM) from irrelevant cognitive loads, enabling new cognitive content to relate to prior knowledge. The design presupposes a limited WM capacity to deal with visual, auditory and verbal material, and an almost unlimited long-term memory (LTM), able to hold mental representations that vary in their degree of automation. It considers WM constraints, element interactivity and 3 types of cognitive loads (CL). Cognitive accessibility is ensured through provision of novelty and variety, surprise and exploration, strictly avoiding engagement in complex cognitive procedures.