[curriculum-eval] 04-github-actions-intro.md: cognitive_load & active_learning — concept overload with thin activity density

**File:** `workshop/04-github-actions-intro.md`
**Overall Score:** `5.39 / 10.0` (corpus mean: `6.14`)

**Flagged Dimensions:**

| Dimension | Score | Benchmark | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| new_concepts | 28 | ≤ 15 per step | −13 |
| active_learning | 3.9 / 10.0 | activity density ≥ 3 → 10.0 | −6.1 |
| checkpoint_quality* | 0.0 / 10.0 | present + ≥4 items → 10.0 | measurement artifact, see note |

*Note: the file has a real `## :white_check_mark: Checkpoint` section with 5 checklist items — the `missing_checkpoint` flag is a false positive caused by the rubric's emoji-shortcode detection bug (filed separately). Treat `checkpoint_quality` as effectively ~10.0 once that bug is fixed, so this issue focuses on the two dimensions that are genuinely weak: concept overload and low active-learning density.

**Root Cause (≤ 2 sentences):**
This is the workshop's Actions primer, so it introduces trigger/job/step/runner/YAML-key vocabulary in rapid succession across three stacked code blocks and two nested `` asides, pushing new-concept count to 28 (almost double the 15-concept ceiling) while offering only one lightweight "open a file and find a key" activity. Concept density this high without corresponding hands-on checkpoints between concepts front-loads working memory rather than distributing practice.

**Evidence (quoted from the file):**
> A GitHub Actions workflow is a YAML file in `.github/workflows/` that tells GitHub:
> - _when_ to run (`on`)
> - _what_ to run (`jobs`)
> - _how_ each job executes (`steps`)

Followed immediately by an annotated YAML example, a nested `` on "What is a runner?", and further vocabulary — all before any learner-performed activity beyond reading.

**Learning Science Rationale:**
Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory predicts that presenting many novel, interrelated terms (trigger, job, step, runner, workflow file, `on`/`jobs`/`steps` keys) in one continuous block — without interleaved retrieval practice — overloads working memory and produces shallow, non-durable encoding. Mayer's coherence principle further suggests that stacking two nested `` asides plus three code blocks in a single short page adds extraneous processing without giving the learner a chance to actively apply each concept before the next is introduced.

**Improvement Prompt (for an agent):**
```
Edit workshop/04-github-actions-intro.md to reduce cognitive load and raise active-learning density:

1. Split the "Quick Refresher" section so each of the four core terms (trigger, job, step, runner) gets
its own short paragraph followed immediately by a one-line hands-on check, e.g. "Open your practice
repo's .github/workflows/ folder — do you see a .yml file? That's a workflow file." Interleave these
micro-checks rather than presenting all vocabulary before any activity.
2. Move the nested "What is a runner?" content out of the flow and either fold it into the main
text as a single sentence or drop it if it duplicates the "Quick Refresher" bullets — reduce new_concepts
toward the 15-concept target.
3. Add at least one additional lightweight activity beyond the annotated YAML read (e.g., ask the learner
to identify which of the three keys — on/jobs/steps — controls scheduling, and confirm the answer inline)
to raise activity_density (code blocks + checklist items per 100 words) above 3.0.
4. Keep the existing "## :white_check_mark: Checkpoint" section and its 5 checklist items unchanged.
5. Run `npx --yes markdownlint-cli2 "workshop/04-github-actions-intro.md"` after editing.
```

**Expected Score After Fix:** `7.5 / 10.0` (after also correcting the checkpoint-detection rubric bug)

> Generated by [🔬 Curriculum Quality Evaluator](https://github.com/githubnext/gh-aw-workshop/actions/runs/35098365907) · copilot · auto · 88.8 AIC · ⌖ 13.7 AIC · ⊞ 9.5K · [◷](https://github.com/search?q=repo%3Agithubnext%2Fgh-aw-workshop+is%3Aissue+%22gh-aw-workflow-call-id%3A+githubnext%2Fgh-aw-workshop%2Fcurriculum-evaluator%22&type=issues)
> - [x] expires on Sep 17, 2026, 1:01 PM UTC

Start with workshop/04-github-actions-intro.md, especially the Quick Refresher, annotated YAML example, nested runner details, and existing Checkpoint section. Interleave the four terms with lightweight checks, reduce duplicated runner material, add one activity, and preserve all five checkpoint items. Run npx --yes markdownlint-cli2 "workshop/04-github-actions-intro.md"; done means the lint command passes and the lesson addresses the stated concept-density and activity-density goals.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.