Load reduction instruction: Exploring a framework that assesses explicit instruction through to independent learning

Load reduction instruction (LRI) is an instructional approach aimed at managing the cognitive burden on students in the initial stages of learning; then, as fluency and automaticity develop, students are encouraged to engage in guided independent learning. LRI comprises five factors: difficulty reduction, support and scaffolding, practice, feedback, and guided independence. This study examined an instrument (the Load Reduction Instruction Scale, LRIS) aimed at assessing these five factors. Among a sample of high school students from 40 classrooms, findings supported the validity of the LRIS, the conceptualising underpinning it, and its potential to guide instructional practice.