Cognitive Load and Digital Habitus: A Micro-Analysis of the Usage Gap in Rural Adaptive Learning Platforms

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-593-5_8How to use a DOI?

Keywords

adaptive learning platforms (ALPs); cognitive load; digital habitus

Abstract

The “Artificial Intelligence Empowering Education” of the Ministry of Education clearly points out that the development of “Intelligent Learning Partners” and the promotion of “Large-scale Individualized Instruction” are critical engines for modernizing the education system. Under this policy framework, adaptive learning platforms (ALPs) are regarded as vital for providing high-quality, balanced compulsory education and for bridging disparities between urban and rural areas. However, the deployment of these platforms in rural schools has raised challenges related to the “usage gap”. Specifically, this study identifies three micro-level barriers. The environmental instability causes “technostress”, which increases students’ additional cognitive load. The complex interface causes “cognitive overload” and “split-attention” in rural teachers who lack support. A deficit in academic digital habitus leads to “habitus displacement”, that is, learning devices are used for recreational activities that require little cognitive effort. Consequently, the implementation logic should shift from the “arithmetic equality” of hardware distribution to a “priority view” of cognitive support for vulnerable groups. This paper advocates the use of inclusive interface design to reduce cognitive barriers and the construction of digital learning communities to reshape the digital habits of rural learners, ensuring that technology empowers rather than overwhelms them.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Binle Lai
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/30
TI  - Cognitive Load and Digital Habitus: A Micro-Analysis of the Usage Gap in Rural Adaptive Learning Platforms
BT  - Proceedings of the 2026 5th International Conference on Humanities, Wisdom Education and Service Management (HWESM 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 50
EP  - 57
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-593-5_8
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-593-5_8
ID  - Lai2026
ER  -