Biologically intrinsic knowledge that we acquired through evolution. Each knowledge or skill of this type (e.g., ability to listen or facial recognition) are modular--different and unrelated processes. 

Primary Knowledge

Non-intrinsic knowledge that must be learned. Humans can acquire this type of knowledge in general but do not have innate specific modular abilities of this type; for example, we have the neural structures that enable us to learn how to read or write, but we cannot read or write any specific language at birth. When learning this type of knowledge, humans acquire information from extrinsic information stores to integrate into their own (large) information store. 

Secondary Knowledge

Knowledge can be divided into two categories: biologically primary and secondary knowledge.

Johns Hopkins University

1. Division of Knowledge
2. Natural Information Processing System

Two Assumptions of Cognitive Load Theory

Sweller, J. (2011). Cognitive load theory. In Psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 55, pp. 37-76). Academic Press.

Cognitive Load Theory

Assumption 1: Division of Knowledge

The human cognitive system is a natural information processing system which has similar characteristics to the evolutionary system. Thus, there are similarities between the acquisition of the two types of knowledge. These similarities are specified in five principles

Learn Before

Related

Learn After