Pedagogy First. Technology Second.

Chunk and Reveal

The strategy, as published

Exactly as it appears on the card

Part of Managing Cognitive Load in 05 Explanations & Modelling, where it sits alongside its neighbouring strategies, the infographic and the thinking for the whole area.

Why you might use it

The problem it may help with

Delivered as one continuous stream, an explanation gives working memory nowhere to catch up. Mayer's segmenting principle breaks the content into chunks, with processing time between them.

On screen, that means one idea per click. The pause after each chunk is where the processing happens.

What it might look like

One version of it, in a classroom

A teacher explaining the stages of mitosis sets the diagram to build across five clicks. Between clicks, a question or a ten-second look at the board gives each chunk time to settle before the next arrives.

Try it

A way to begin

Take one slide that currently shows everything at once and rebuild it so each idea appears on its own click.

What to notice

Reading what happens

  • Whether the pauses that feel long to you land differently with the class.
  • The questions that come between chunks, which can surface confusion while the idea is still small.

Things to think about

Before and while you use it

  • Click, not auto-play. The card is specific because the difference is who controls the pace: you, reading the room, or the software, reading a timer.

Inclusive practice

The lens this connects with

Through the inclusive practice lens, this is one of the approaches that may reduce barriers around:

The wider thinking

Where the evidence sits

Mayer's segmenting principle is the direct source, and it is the multimedia expression of the same limit Sweller's load theory describes. The card’s attribution stands as published: Mayer.

The fuller picture, sources included, is in further reading and evidence for Explanations & Modelling.

Keep exploring

Where next?

Back to this strategy in 05 Explanations & Modelling, across to what you're trying to improve, or into all 144 at once.

Want to take this further?

Support is available

Pedagogy First gives you a starting point. If you want support exploring how approaches like this can work across your school, trust or professional learning programme, that work is available.

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