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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2026.03.006

From Design to Empowerment: Leveraging Cognitive Load Theory and Artificial Intelligence for Self-directed Learning in Medical Education

Shuang Dai1,2, Xingchen Peng1,*

1Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.

2Health and Management Center, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.

*Corresponding author: Xingchen Peng

The work was supported by the Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project (2023ZD0503000, 2023ZD0503004, SQ2026AAA161144).
Published: March 20,2026

Abstract

In an era of artificial intelligence and information abundance, medical educators face a critical paradox: how can students master an exponentially growing body of knowledge while simultaneously cultivating the vital capacity for life-long learning? Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) has traditionally guided instructional design to manage the cognitive demands of complex subjects. However, this approach often positions students as passive recipients of optimized con-tent, leaving them ill-prepared for the self-directed learning demands of modern clinical practice. This article advocates for a necessary paradigm shift: explicitly teaching CLT to students as a practical metacognitive toolkit, augmented by AI technologies, to transform them into active, adaptive managers of their own learning. Using the high-complexity domain of cancer molecular mechanisms as an illustrative model, we provide a step-by-step framework for educators to implement this model across medical disciplines. This approach enables students to diagnose cognitive overload, employ evidence-based learning strategies with AI feedback, and build critical self-directed learning competencies. The framework offers actionable guidelines to not only enhance the efficiency of knowledge acquisition but also to foster the resilient, lifelong learners that the future of healthcare requires.

Keywords

Cognitive Load Theory; Medical Education; Artificial Intelligence; Self-directed Learning; Cancer Biology

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Copyright

© 2026 by the author(s).
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How to cite this paper

From Design to Empowerment: Leveraging Cognitive Load Theory and Artificial Intelligence for Self-directed Learning in Medical Education

How to cite this paper: Shuang Dai, Xingchen Peng. (2026). From Design to Empowerment: Leveraging Cognitive Load Theory and Artificial Intelligence for Self-directed Learning in Medical EducationThe Educational Review, USA10(3), 148-154.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2026.03.006