Developed by Malcolm Knowles, the principles of andragogy emphasize self-directed learning, practical application of knowledge, and the importance of learners’ life experiences. Unlike pedagogy, which is centered on teacher-directed instruction, andragogy places a strong emphasis on the learner’s active participation in the learning process.
Key differences between pedagogy and andragogy are based on six principles: self-concept, experience, readiness to learn, orientation to learning, motivation, and the need for respect. Explore the key principles that differentiate pedagogy and andragogy, and discover your preferred learning style by answering questions based on the six fundamental principles shaping adult education. Take this personality quiz to understand how these principles align with your unique approach to learning.
In essence, andragogy provides a comprehensive and learner-centered perspective that empowers adults to take control of their own learning journey. Acknowledging your own learning style helps you empathize with learners who may have similar preferences. This understanding allows you to create content that is more audience-centric, addressing various learning needs and preferences. By understanding and applying the principles of andragogy, you can create engaging and effective learning experiences that resonate with the unique needs and aspirations of adult learners.
Additional Resources:
Malcolm Knowles is known for his book titled The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species. You can access the book through the Institute of Education Services:
When Marshal McLuhan said that “the medium is the message,” he wasn’t exactly talking about a four-hour webinar. However, his exploration of how communication technologies influence human perception remains relevant today, especially considering that the medium used to convey information significantly impacts how we learn.
The medium used to deliver information is just as crucial as the message itself, influencing how learners perceive and understand the content. Let’s consider this concept as we explore how different delivery methods affect the learning experience and shape learners’ interactions with the material.
Extended Formats: In-Depth Learning Experiences
Instructors often rely on long videos or webinars to cover complex topics or provide comprehensive training. The purpose of this blog is not to criticize videos or lectures, as this format has several advantages. Some subjects require a longer format to provide context and a deeper understanding. Instructors can present information seamlessly, making it easier to follow a sequence of ideas. Also, a dynamic presentation can enhance understanding and generate enthusiasm for a topic.
While an extended format allows for in-depth exploration of complex topics, it has drawbacks. In this article, we will delve into some of the limitations of this format and explore how microlearning can complement this type of training by overcoming those challenges.
Disadvantages of the Extended Format
Long videos and webinars can strain attention spans, making it hard to focus on key information. Reviewing the material becomes challenging, as learners must search through extensive content to find specific concepts. And the passive content consumption in long videos may not suit all learners, as it fails to accommodate diverse learning styles.
Navigating vast amounts of data or complex concepts can be challenging, especially when the material is new. Trying to stay focused during a long video or reading long passages can seem like drinking from a firehose. One way that Award Solutions addresses this issue is through microlearning.
What is Microlearning?
Microlearning involves short, focused, interactive learning modules designed to address specific objectives. Short modules provide concise, targeted information. These short, easily accessible modules empower learners to process information at their preferred pace while reinforcing knowledge effectively. Let’s examine how microlearning can complement and enhance other learning mediums.
Focused Content
Microlearning allows one to extract key messages from abundant data and use interactive elements to strengthen specific points and emphasize important features. When faced with vast amounts of data or complex concepts, learners might struggle to identify the most critical points. Microlearning addresses this challenge by delivering content in small chunks, making it easier to highlight key messages. The concise format automatically filters out unnecessary details, letting learners concentrate on essential information. By isolating concepts, learners can focus on understanding one idea at a time, reducing cognitive overload.
Engaging and Interactive Elements
Microlearning breaks away from passive content consumption and transforms the learning experience into an active and participatory process. By leveraging applications like Rise360 and Lumi, educators can create interactive exercises to facilitate deeper understanding and retention of information. Drag-and-drop activities let learners organize information or match concepts. Infographics can be interactive, allowing learners to explore data or information by clicking on different elements. This hands-on approach improves understanding and knowledge retention and serves diverse learning styles. Blending a microlearning approach with longer formats accommodates learners who prefer different modes of information consumption, providing a more engaging learning experience overall.
Quick Refreshers
Microlearning complements lectures or videos by quickly refreshing learners’ memory with crucial information. By presenting essential content focused and succinctly, learners can rapidly recall important facts, concepts, or procedures. The concise microlearning format makes it easy for learners to revisit specific concepts and refresh their understanding. A learner can also easily access microlearning refreshers when needed, making it time-efficient to review specific topics or information without revisiting lengthy courses or materials.
Identify Knowledge Gaps
Microlearning empowers learners to take an active role in identifying their knowledge gaps. Incorrect answers to assessment questions prompt learners to recognize areas where they may have knowledge gaps. Responses to interactive elements can reveal areas where reinforcement is necessary, allowing learners to fill that gap in real-time. Through self-assessment, learners become more aware of their understanding and can recognize areas where they need more practice or study.
Microlearning delivers content in short, frequent bursts, and this repeated exposure to information aids in knowledge retention and helps learners recognize their familiarity with specific concepts. Learners can quickly verify their knowledge and feel more confident in their abilities.
Close the Knowing-Doing Gap
Sometimes learners experience a gap between knowing and doing. They understand the theory but aren’t sure how to apply it. Bridging the gap between abstract ideas and practical implications makes learning more meaningful. Microlearning can enhance content by providing real-world scenarios and the opportunity to apply concepts from a longer format directly. Modules can include simulations or real-life scenarios encouraging learners to apply their knowledge in practical situations. By applying knowledge in a real-world scenario, learners can connect theoretical concepts to practical situations they may encounter.
Summary
While the delivery method of long videos or webinars may be necessary for many learning scenarios, they come with inherent challenges. Microlearning can be an effective supplement to this material. There are several ways the medium of microlearning shapes how learners engage with the content and influences learning outcomes. It can break down complex topics and enhance engagement by appealing to different learning styles. By combining both approaches, instructors can deliver comprehensive and impactful learning experiences.
Systems training is an integral part of the learning landscape. New software programs are always being introduced and updated, and companies often choose to develop custom software to serve their workflows and practices. Using a combination of scenario-based videos and system simulations can help students learn efficiently and effectively. In this example, let’s look at example of Wireshark, an open-source application that can capture, display, and analyze network traffic data.
Scenario-Based Videos
Scenario-based videos demonstrate software functionality visually and interactively. Using these videos, learners can see how to navigate the user interface and perform specific tasks.
Each video can provide a real-world example of how to use the system, like setting a filter. Learners can see best practices for using the system, like efficient workflows, shortcuts, and tips for avoiding common errors. This type of training helps users hit the ground running and reduce their initial learning curve.
Scenario-based videos depict realistic and relatable situations and keep users interested and motivated to learn the system. They’re more effective than simple how-to videos because they provide context and demonstrate practical applications, making the training more relevant.
System Simulation
Simulations make it easier for students to learn the program by providing guided instructions with real-time feedback.
They also offer opportunities for problem-solving in a controlled environment with minimal risk to any in-production data. This Wireshark simulation can demonstrate how different types of traffic look and behave, making it easier for users to learn to identify and understand patterns and anomalies.
Simulations can be used to teach programs at all levels, from beginners to advanced users. Beginners can start with simulations that demonstrate basic features and user interface navigation. Advanced users can work through more complex simulations that imitate real-world scenarios.
Putting It All Together
Presenting a scenario-based video, followed by the opportunity to physically practice each process in a simulated interactive environment that mimics real-world situations can significantly enhance learning outcomes. Combining short videos with physical practice helps the course flow and engages visual, auditory, and motor pathways in the brain, keeping the user engaged and interested in the learning process.
These pathways in the brain are like roads that allow information to travel between different parts of the brain. The more connections we create, the easier it is for information to flow and for us to learn and remember things.
Simultaneously activating multiple neural pathways can improve learning and retention because it strengthens these connections. For example, when we learn something using different methods, like combining scenario-based videos and system simulations, we activate multiple neural pathways in the brain simultaneously, actively engaging the user in learning and helping them stay focused and motivated, which can lead to better learning and retention.
Microlearning is a great way to provide users with a way to develop a focused skill in minutes. Let’s get our hands dirty for this blog by creating a microlearning example in Lumi. After a recent trip to Italy, I realized I don’t know much about coffee, specifically espresso drinks. I’ve been to Starbucks and local coffee shops but let the cappuccinos and lattes go by in a blur. Plus, if it comes frozen, drizzled in chocolate, and doused with a mountain of whipped cream, is it really coffee?
Anyway, back to the point. Today, we will use Lumi to create a microlearning module about coffee. Yes, I agree there are many more serious things in life to learn about, like quantum physics and cybersecurity, but I’m the one running this, and today we are going with coffee. At the end of the microlearning, we want the learner to identify six types of espresso drinks properly.
Lumi is a free resource with lots of options for creating interactive content. Lumi lets you create interactive H5P (HTML5) packages. The H5P interactions can be seamlessly embedded in websites, learning management systems, or other educational materials.
I’m going to create a microlearning module using the Column feature. A Column lets you combine almost any activity available in Lumi into one consecutive activity. We can use this feature to create activities that gradually build upon what the user takes away from the content.
The first activity will include the core learning materials, the essential knowledge we want the learner to acquire. I will create content combining text accompanied by illustrative images, but this section could be anything. We could make a video delving into the history of coffee or maybe a presentation that the learner can explore.
We will follow this with a drag-and-drop exercise where the learner can practice identifying coffees using the diagrams in the previous interaction. Finally, we will present the user with a scenario allowing them to apply what they’ve learned. Let’s get started.
Graphics Selection
I chose a coffee infographic from some stock images because I like that it gives a quick visual reference to the types of coffee drinks. Maybe I shouldn’t have chosen one in Italian, but here we are. I like bringing back the same images to make the user feel at ease, continue the flow, and trigger memories from when they first encountered the information.
The Introduction
Sometimes, I like to use the Column in Lumi even with a single activity because adding a text field above the exercise gives you many options. You can format the text, explain the activity, and even use images. So, the first item in the column will be a simple text panel introducing the first activity.
Activity 1: Image Blender
Next, we will create an Agamotto (Image Blender) activity. I chose this format because it helps us show a series of pictures that work well to compare the types of coffee. Along with each image, we will explain the different coffee types, outline specific ingredients, offer background insights, and describe each coffee’s unique flavor profiles.
I could not find any information on why they would name this activity “Agamotto” other than some vague reference to Dr. Who. If anyone has any information regarding this, please leave it in the comments. Again…back to the point.
I’ve found that image size in Lumi makes a dramatic difference in how the content appears on a user’s screen and how the interaction displays in general. Here is a test display of one of the images I posted in the activity before editing the size.
As you can see, the picture overwhelms the page, and you need to scroll to see the entire image creating an unfriendly user experience. Your results may vary, but I have found that images 1200 pixels wide generally leave enough room on the screen to view the image within most activities.
After using the “+ ADD ITEM” button to create each section, we will proceed to populate content for each of the coffee types we want to include:
Add the edited image to each section.
Provide a label title on the screen above each tick mark.
Write the description.
After completing each section, previewing your work using the VIEW tab at the top of the Lumi workspace is a good idea.
Previewing the exercise, you will see a different image and description appear as you move the bar over each option.
Activity 2: Drag and Drop
So far, our column has one text field and one activity. Let’s add another text field to explain what will happen next and give the user some instructions for the exercise.
We will use the same image set we used for the Image Blender for the Drag and Drop exercise. When editing an image for Lumi Drag and Drop, allowing room for the draggable options to display below the graphic is important. The image is 1200 pixels wide with a height of 400 pixels. Notice the extra white space below the graphic. This blank space will allow for drop zones and drag options.
Next, we add this image as the base of the drag-and-drop activity:
Upload the image file.
Reset the parameters of the task size to reflect the image size. Since the image size is 1200×400, this is what we specify for how large the play area should be
Once you’ve selected your image and set the Task size, click the Task tab to start building your interaction. The first step in creating this activity is to add the drop zones. Click the drop zone icon at the top of the Task menu.
Now you can create and place each of your drop zones:
We give the first drop zone a title in the Label section.
We are not going to choose the option to show the label.
Each drop zone will contain only one element, so we will select that checkbox.
Auto-Align will pull each label to the same location in the drop zone. I like to use it because it makes it easier for the user not to feel like they need to work to align the item into the drop zone precisely.
The drop zone will appear in the Task window when you click Done. Once we have all the drop zones in place, we can add the draggable elements. For this exercise, we will add text labels and select the Text icon at the top of the Task menu.
In this section, you will add the text for each draggable option and define which drop zones will accept this item:
Add the label for the first element, “Espresso.”
For this instance, we want each drop zone to accept all the draggable options. Under Select drop zones, click the checkbox to Select All, allowing the user to drop the item in any of the zones.
Since we only need one instance of this label, we will not select the checkbox for Infinite number of instances.
Clicking Done will add your draggable item to the Task area. Once you have added all your labels, it is time to explain to your interaction how to score. For a Drag and Drop in Lumi, you need to identify which labels should land in a drop zone for the interaction to be correct. Double-click the first drop zone, Espresso.
Since the correct label for this drop zone is “Espresso,” click the checkbox next to that label.
I prefer arranging the content for an activity like this in a way that allows users to view everything at once. This way, users can easily review the information if they don’t recall something immediately. It can be frustrating to navigate back and forth between activity elements to find details you might not remember from earlier.
Activity 3: Apply What You’ve Learned
In the last section, we will ask more detailed questions, allowing the user to put their acquired knowledge into practice. In this scenario, you are a barista in a coffee shop, and the milk steamer stops working. You will have to decide which coffee drinks you can continue making without the steamer. I will create a multiple-choice question, but the activity can be anything that builds on the knowledge the learner has already acquired.
Select Multiple Choice from the content drop-down menu, then fill in the text for the question.
Next, you will fill in the answer options, adding more options as needed.
Finally, let’s add feedback to explain why this is the correct answer.
Notice you can also add tips that appear before the user checks the answer, giving them time to change their response.
For the last part of the module, I like to write a quick summary of the material and the key points. Ideally, this will be a statement that, while elegantly simple, leaves an indelible imprint on the mind. This concluding paragraph should encapsulate the entirety of the discourse while resonating with an aura of profound inspiration. However, nothing comes too readily to mind.
Conclusion
I hope this crash course in microlearning and coffee has helped you navigate your caffeine or instructional design challenges. My biggest struggle when first using Lumi was learning how to manipulate the image sizes so they would fit properly in the exercises. I also struggled a bit with navigating through the Drag and Drop Task. Following the order that Lumi recommends is important since you must create all the drop options before creating the labels and assigning them to the correct locations. I hope that sharing my experience will make your challenges lighter.
APIs are all around you. API stands for Application Programming Interface, but I like to think of APIs as an entirely new world hidden behind what you can readily see. For example, look at the world of Harry Potter. To enter a magical world behind the city of London, Harry Potter must learn to run through a wall at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King’s Cross Station. In the middle of the bustling Muggle (non-magical) crowd, he only sees a brick wall between Platforms Nine and Ten. At first, it appears to be an ordinary solid brick wall, but as he approaches the barrier, he astonishingly discovers access to the magical side of London, which is concealed from the eyes of the Muggles. APIs are like that. They are a world within the regular world that only people who know about them can see. If you know how to go through the door, new possibilities are open to you.
You’ve probably interacted with APIs without even realizing it. For instance, when you check the weather on your smartphone, you’re accessing a weather API that provides up-to-date forecasts and conditions. The same goes for mapping and navigation apps, like Google Maps, which rely on APIs to fetch location data, directions, and real-time traffic updates. APIs are behind the scenes of countless everyday activities, from shopping online to video streaming. Let’s look closer at the hidden world that makes data integration possible.
Improve your Wizardry Skills
In this section, we will explore the Harry Potter DB, an API with data from the Harry Potter Universe.
API documentation typically covers authentication methods, such as API keys or tokens, and security considerations. As you can see from the Harry Potter API documentation, no authentication is required. The documentation also gives us the base URL. Let’s look at how to use this to make requests.
Endpoints
API Endpoints are specific URLs that serve as gateways to access resources provided by the API. Each endpoint represents a data set within the API. The API documentation lets us know what endpoints are available. Here are some example endpoints for Characters, Potions, and Spells from the Harry Potter API.
Let’s try one out! Start with the base URL, then the version number and the word “potions,” followed by a slug, which is a human-readable unique identifier. For this example, our slug will be “ageing-potion.” Try pasting this endpoint into your browser: https://api.potterdb.com/v1/potions/ageing-potion
Sorry, I should have warned you. But don’t worry, there’s a reason.
JSON: API Format
The lack of formatting that makes this information hard for humans to read simplifies the application task. The JSON format is intended to be universally compatible with various applications. Let’s explore how an application could put this data to use.
JSON organizes data into key-value pairs, making it easy for applications to understand. To display a potion’s image, name, and effect, our app selects the relevant data by referencing the keys within the JSON. It finds the “image,” “name,” and “effect” keys to get the data it needs to display.
Our application can quickly access specific information because data is formatted for simplicity and consistency. But maybe you aren’t into potions. Do you like pirates? Let’s look at another example.
Talk Like a Pirate
This section will explore Fun Translations, an API that converts English to fictional languages.
To interact with an API, you send HTTP requests. These requests are like messages you use to ask the API to do something, like fetching data. We used a URL to target a specific endpoint for the potion example. We will still use an endpoint, but now we will add a query string. A query is a name and value pair sent in the URL of a GET request. In this example, you can see the get request, “text=” followed by the value. In this case, the value can be any word or phrase you want to translate into “pirate.”
You should see something like this in your browser window. You receive structured information in XML format in this response, with clear tags and values. The tag “translated” contains the word “Ahoy,” which it sent in response to our request.
Like the JSON format we saw earlier, this is a convenient way for an application to understand and process the data provided by the API. In this case, our application reads the “translated” tag in XML to display the user’s words or phrases to the endpoint.
In the GET request, you send[AP1][LS2] the words and phrases you want to translate. You can substitute any word or phrase after the query for anything you want to translate. Fun translations API has lots of endpoints, from Pig Latin to Minion. Change the endpoint to change your preferred translation, then use the query to send a word or phrase to translate. Let’s try the endpoint for Mandalorian.
Our application uses the Dog API to populate a drop-down list of all dog breeds from the database. When a user selects a breed from the list, the app pulls a random image for that breed to populate the frame.
Here is a section of the JSON data that populates the drop-down menu.
As you can see, the list is extensive. Imagine how hard it would be to populate a drop-down menu manually. We can seamlessly integrate their extensive collection of dog breed information and images into our application using APIs like Dog API. This saves us the effort of manually curating and updating this data and ensures its reliability, as the API’s data source maintains it. Because I didn’t have to go around taking random dog photos, you can have a better experience. It’s a win-win.
Sorry, here is one more random dog because I couldn’t resist. But enough about dogs. Perhaps we should try something a little more serious. How do you feel about space exploration?
Discover Life on Mars
In this section, we will explore NASA Open API. This website offers user-friendly APIs designed to facilitate seamless access to NASA data and imagery.
The APIs we have been using don’t require a key or authentication. While NASA APIs are open and available for public use, they require an API key for access. By requiring an API key, NASA can track who uses their API, manage usage limits, and ensure responsible access to their data and resources.
NASA APIs allow you to send the API key as a query parameter in the URL. For example, to view an astronomy picture of the day (APOD), you would type the base URL, followed by the endpoint, and then the API key:
In our example, we are using the “mars-photos” endpoint to pull information about current rovers on Mars and the most recent pictures taken by their various cameras. Here is an example of a call to the API endpoint for the Perseverance rover.
Our app will then parse the JSON data to extract the URLs of the images.
Dynamic Data
The advantage of using an API in your application to access data is that it allows your application to receive automatic updates. APIs often provide access to real-time or near-real-time data, meaning your application can stay updated with the latest information without manual intervention. Data updates automatically, which reduces the need for manual maintenance and data management, saving time and resources.
Summary
APIs are all around us, enabling data access and functionalities in everyday apps and services. They’re the silent enablers that power services like weather forecasts, navigation, and data integration, making our digital world look seamless.
Documentation acts as your guide, providing access methods and essential details. Endpoints are like gateways to specific data sets, each serving a distinct purpose. Data formats like JSON and XML may seem complex but are ideal for applications to retrieve and process data efficiently. APIs enhance data accuracy and keep applications current. APIs are the tools that seamlessly integrate services and data, making our applications work effortlessly.
Congratulations. You’ve made it beyond Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Just as Harry transcends a seemingly ordinary brick wall to enter the wizarding world, APIs offer a passage to a concealed digital universe, accessible to those who know how to open the door.
But wait! There’s More…
Please take a few minutes to play with some of the applications we’ve developed through open APIs. You can learn to talk like a pirate, find a furry friend, explore life on Mars, and browse through the enchanting array of potions from the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
Have you ever been to Cracker Barrel? I mean the restaurant, of course, not a literal barrel of crackers. Even if you haven’t been there, you probably noticed one since they are always located off the highway. Look for the iconic wooden porch laden with an impossible number of rocking chairs. After you cross the porch and walk through a gift shop filled with holiday ornaments and candy from the past, you may notice a game at your table: a triangle of wood with holes containing little pegs.
The rules for the game are printed on the back of the wooden triangle and read as follows:
JUMP ALL BUT ONE GAME: Jump each tee and remove it.
Leave only one – You’re GENIUS
Leave two – You’re PURTY SMART
Leave three – You’re JUST PLAIN DUMB
Leave four or more – You’re an EG-NO-RA-MOOSE
One day, as I sat at Cracker Barrel with a glass of sweet tea, patiently awaiting the arrival of biscuits, I had a moment to contemplate the significance of that small wooden board. What is fascinating about jumping pegs over one another to remove them? Why are we so thrilled when we win? Why do we play games? And, most importantly, what is an EG-NO-RA-MOOSE?
Let’s look at this little game more closely.
The History of Peg Solitaire
Claude Auguste Berey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Legend has it that a French mathematician invented the game to entertain a king. The first evidence of the game can be traced back to the court of Louis XIV, and the specific date of 1697, from an engraving by Claude Auguste Berey of Anne de Rohan-Chabot, Princess of Soubise, with the puzzle by her side. Considering it’s fit for royalty, it’s no surprise that Cracker Barrel keeps one on every table.
Peg Solitaire and Problem Solving
Getting the puzzle right and saving your reputation for not being an “eg-no-ra-moose” relies on luck and strategic planning. Certain patterns and strategies work better than others. As you learn the game, you begin to consider strategic routes through the puzzle using problem-solving scenarios. That might work for some people, but after a few tries, I looked up some instructions on WikiHow (https://www.wikihow.com/Win-the-Peg-Game).
While there are many opening positions and approaches to winning the game, I’ve selected an approach that begins with the first empty peg in one corner of the puzzle for our purposes. Don’t worry; even though we are limiting this topic to one approach, you will still be declared a “genius” at your next weekend brunch.
Peg Solitaire as a Learning Experiment
Think of this as more of an experiment than a blog. Why do people like games, and how can we harness that to help them learn? Does gamification really work?
Let’s see what we can learn about gamification from a game with wooden pegs.
Set Clear Goals and Objectives
One of the fundamental principles of gamification is setting clear goals and objectives. The game board at Cracker Barrel explains that the aim is to finish the game with only one peg on the board. So, what is the objective of our experiment? This blog has two goals, and the game link is attached. First, practicing the digital version of the game and learning some board patterns will help you impress your friends and family by winning peg solitaire at Cracker Barrel or wherever else you may encounter the game. Secondly, you can implement the psychological principles behind gaming to develop more effective training.
Design the Game Mechanics
This is where we define the rules of the game. The directions on the wooden board, “jump each tee and remove it,” explain in a few words how to play. In our virtual peg game, we include instructions to guide the player to remove pegs by jumping one over another. To adapt this mechanic to suit our learning objectives, we will include review questions based on this material as part of the process. By providing instructions and examples to players, we can make it easy to understand how the game works.
Set Achievement Milestones
Even with the minimal instructions printed on the back of a small wood triangle, the Cracker Barrel game breaks down achievement milestones. As you move pegs around the board, you gradually increase your rank until you reach the “purty smart” and “genius” levels. This allows you to feel you are making progress and keeps you motivated to finish the game.
For our experiment, we will break down the game into four increments based on patterns that will help you win the game.
Applying this concept to learning in general, you can break down the learning experience into smaller milestones or achievements to keep users from being overwhelmed. These milestones are checkpoints that keep your players on track and motivated.
Incorporate Rewards and Feedback
The Cracker Barrel game assigns the reward of declaring you a “genius” or “purty smart” if you do well. And, “just plain dumb” or “EG-NO-RA-MOOSE” if you don’t. While I don’t think we should call anyone dumb if they don’t progress, we can use this model to offer rewards or feedback for completing levels within our virtual game. In our game version, we will use fictitious prizes from a virtual Cracker Barrel store to assign as rewards for each milestone.
Behold the Fabulous Prizes
For learning in general, gamification teaches us the importance of providing immediate feedback on learner performance. For every action or task completed, we will let the learner know how they did and what they earned. Receiving feedback, whether confirming the accuracy of a response or pointing out an error, offers players insights into their performance, helping them learn and improve. The goal is to create a positive and motivating learning experience.
Putting it All Together
What can the peg game at Cracker Barrel teach us about gamification?
First, the game provides one clear objective: removing as many pegs as possible from the board. Objectives and goals in gamification are essential because they give players a sense of purpose and direction. When players know what they are working toward and need to achieve, it enhances their motivation to participate and engage in the game.
The game mechanics of the wooden peg game are clear: pulling one peg out of position, you can use it to jump over another peg to remove it from the board. Game mechanics define the rules, interactions, and systems that make the game enjoyable and meaningful. When game mechanics are well-designed, they provide clarity, consistency, and a sense of purpose for players.
The game uses the number of pegs left on the board during play to set achievement milestones, providing progress markers for the players. Achieving milestones creates a sense of achievement, which can be highly motivating and encourages players to continue striving toward their goals. These milestones can also break down a larger task or objective into manageable parts.
The game incorporates feedback, teasing you if you leave too many pegs in place and rewarding you with the title of “genius” when you succeed. Rewards and feedback in gamification enhance motivation, engagement, and a sense of achievement among players. Rewards serve as incentives and tangible progress markers, encouraging players to participate in the game actively. Feedback reinforces players’ actions and accomplishments or lets them know when they have made mistakes.
By understanding the principles behind this deceptively simple game, we can design learning experiences that set clear goals, provide well-designed game mechanics, break down complex tasks into achievable milestones, and provide immediate rewards and feedback.
Do you need a story to learn Python? I believe that you do. Not only do people love stories, but they are also wired for them. At least, Oliver Sacks thinks so. In his book, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, he states, “A man needs such a narrative, a continuous inner narrative, to maintain his identity, his self.”
Without the continuous narrative, we tell ourselves, we have no idea who we are. Is this why narrative is so powerful in helping your brain make connections? I want to explore this idea, but first, let’s do a logic puzzle.
A Puzzling Perspective
Imagine that the image above is four cards. Each card has a number on one side and a letter on the other. The visible faces on the cards are 3 and 8, A and B. If I tell you that all the cards with even numbers will have a consonant on the opposite side, which cards would you need to flip over to test this statement?
Spoiler Alert – Here is the solution:
The correct response is to flip over the 8 card and the B card. The rule says nothing about odd numbers, so if the 3 card has a consonant on the other side, it won’t violate the rule. Likewise, if you flip the A card, it won’t matter either because there is no rule about consonants limited to even or odd numbers.
Did you get the correct answer? Did you know that only 10% of people get this one right?
Perspective is Everything
Let’s try the puzzle another way. Imagine you are in a bar tasked with ensuring only people over 21 have alcoholic beverages.
The cards now represent the information you have about a group of people sitting at a table with their beverages. However, each card only has information about the customer’s age or beverage. So which cards do you need to flip to ensure that if a customer drinks a beer, they are over 21?
The entire problem looks different now. I don’t need to know your age if you are drinking a soda. If you are over 21, there is no need to make sure you don’t have a beer. Does it surprise you that people presented with the puzzle in this context performed much better? Given the task of monitoring the alcohol consumption of minors, about 75% of people get it right. What changed?
Wason Selection Task
This puzzle bases itself on the Wason Selection Task. People who initially have difficulty solving the puzzle can solve it correctly when seeing it in a different context. Researchers have lots of theories about why this is. Many focus on “cheat detection” and our tendency to enforce social rules. What is excellent about this experiment is that you can make people more successful, not by changing the task itself, but by changing how you frame it.
When applied to learning, the most interesting part of the experiment isn’t that we gave the puzzle some social rules about drinking. What matters is that you can increase people’s likelihood of success by wrapping a story around the problem. People can make more sense from a teenager drinking a soda than from random letters and numbers. We learn better when there is context and narrative.
Storytelling and Python
a = 33
b = 200
#check b is less than a
if b < a:
print("b is less than a")
In Python, the text above is a basic “if statement” in Python. Let’s make it a little more relatable by giving it a narrative and some context.
Meet Mario
Mario is introducing a lunch buffet at his pizzeria. He wants to offer the buffet for free to children under the age of 12. You need to write a statement in Python that checks a customer’s age against the age limit for a free buffet.
The age limit is 12 to eat at the buffet for free. So, you set the variable “limit” to 12. Now, you can use the “if” statement to check the customer’s age against the limit for the free buffet. For example, if the customer’s age is 10, create a print statement for the buffet discount.
limit = 12
age = 10
#check if the customer age is less than the limit
if age < limit:
print("The buffet is free.")
Pizza and Python
The point of blending pizza and Python isn’t to promote anchovies as a pizza topping. Instead, the intention is to use a story to introduce concepts that non-programmers may initially find hard to grasp without a narrative.
The human brain is a storyteller. Putting learning in context makes connections more accessible and helps make the whole process more engaging.
