All of the effects discussed so far in this paper have emphasised the need to reduce cognitive load because of the limitations of working memory.
While information processing models of learning have historically emphasised the "fixed" limits of working memory, there is evidence (Pavio, 1990; Baddeley, 1992) that under some conditions, an expansion of working memory may be achieved.
Consequently, rather than attempting to reduce cognitive load, an alternative strategy, that of expanding working memory, may be pursued as a means of facilitating learning.
The work by Pavio and Baddeley indicates that at least some portions of working memory appear to be sensory mode specific. That is, some portion of working memory is dedicated to attending to visual information only (especially diagrammatic information) and some other portion of working memory is dedicated to attending to aural information only (especially verbal information). (Note, however, that the majority of working memory appears to be in the form of a central resource which may be allocated to any type of sensory information.)