The Degree of Practice of Islamic Education Teachers in Karak Governorate for Their Roles in Light of Cognitive Load Theory
Abdalkader Saleh Abdalkader Al-Hjooj
The World Islamic Sciences & Education University
This study aimed to examine the extent to which Islamic Education teachers in Al-Karak Governorate perform their instructional roles in accordance with Cognitive Load Theory. It also explored whether these practices vary according to teachers' gender, academic qualification, and years of teaching experience. The study employed a descriptive–analytical research design and utilized a questionnaire developed by the researcher as the primary data collection instrument. The questionnaire comprised 30 items organized into three dimensions: intrinsic cognitive load, extraneous cognitive load, and germane cognitive load. Its validity and reliability were established prior to administration. A simple random sample of 235 male and female teachers of Islamic Education in Al-Karak Governorate during the 2025–2026 academic year participated in the study. The results revealed that teachers’ perceived level of practicing their instructional roles in light of Cognitive Load Theory was moderate. Of the three dimensions, intrinsic cognitive load ranked highest, followed by extraneous load, while germane load ranked lowest. Furthermore, the results revealed no statistically significant differences in teachers' implementation of their instructional roles based on gender, academic qualification, or years of teaching experience.In light of these findings, the study proposed several recommendations. Most notably, it emphasized the need for the Ministry of Education to provide specialized professional development programs that equip teachers of Islamic Education with strategies grounded in Cognitive Load Theory. The study also recommended conducting further research to examine the effectiveness of curriculum units designed according to Cognitive Load Theory and their impact on students' academic achievement and critical thinking skills in Islamic Education.
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