# Georgia Park: Cognitive Load & The Impact On Staff Wellbeing | Episode 156

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-school-of-wellbeing-with-meg-durham-4350714/georgia-park-cognitive-load-the-impact-on-staff-wellbeing-episode-156
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-school-of-wellbeing-with-meg-durham-4350714/georgia-park-cognitive-load-the-impact-on-staff-wellbeing-episode-156.md
Podcast: [The School of Wellbeing with Meg Durham](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-school-of-wellbeing-with-meg-durham-4350714)
Published: 2025-11-06T20:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://open-mind-education.mykajabi.com/podcasts/the-school-of-wellbeing-with-meg-durham/episodes/2149109164
Audio file: https://audio4.redcircle.com/episodes/ae21a952-17d3-4dad-b883-883f0c09a1c2/stream.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-school-of-wellbeing-with-meg-durham-4350714/episodes/georgia-park-cognitive-load-the-impact-on-staff-wellbeing-episode-156
Duration seconds: 1745

## Resource

“When the cognitive load is too high, and you're not coping, it really tears away at the fabric of who you think you are.” Georgia Park In this rich and reflective episode, Meg is joined by Tasmanian instructional coach and literacy leader Georgia Park to explore how understanding Cognitive Load Theory can transform the way we teach, learn, and lead in schools. Georgia shares her journey from classroom overwhelm to clarity and confidence, offering deep insight into how instructional practices grounded in cognitive science can support both student outcomes and educator wellbeing. Together, they explore what cognitive load actually means, why it matters, and how structure and explicit instruction can unlock greater engagement, equity, and joy in the classroom. If you have ever felt stretched too thin or wondered why your lessons are not landing the way you hoped, this conversation offers both practical insight and a sense of possibility. ---- Chapter Markers 01:48 - What sparked Georgia’s interest in Cognitive Load Theory 03:44 - Defining Cognitive Load Theory in simple terms 05:27 - Why cognitive load matters for student wellbeing 06:49 - How instruction shapes student identity 08:43 - Reflection, vulnerability, and removing shame from teaching 10:13 - Georgia’s shift from inquiry-based to explicit instruction 12:19 - Common myths and misunderstandings about CLT 14:24 - The deeper value systems behind the resistance to change 16:05 - Comparing past and current teaching practices 17:36 - How CLT helped Georgia personally and professionally 19:13 - Learning struggles, self-forgiveness, and grief 22:39 - Literacy success and what changed at a systems level 24:38 - Teacher impact and flow in structured classrooms 26:45 - Whole-school alignment and shared direction 28:24 - S…

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