Hundreds of books have been written on the Rubik’s Cube by authors ranging from Mathematicians to science fiction and pop culture writers. New on-line forums and groups spring-up almost every day on the Internet while people organize meetups to solve the puzzle in groups and initiate new members into the exciting world of speed solving the Rubik’s Cube. The Rubik’s Cube has influenced programmers, mathematicians, and comic and music artists. It has even started an art movement called RubikCubism.

As I gleaned and read through the volumes of work dedicated to the Rubik’s Cube, I realized that some very simple mechanisms and design elements make the Rubik’s Cube such an enigmatic puzzle. Once I had worked through my list, I had an insight that most of these mechanics/features may also apply to the design of great learning.

Here are a few design principles and mechanics borrowed from the  Rubik’s Cube that can influence the design of great learning:

It has a clear goal

The moment you hold a Rubik’s Cube in your hand you are clearly aware of the goal. One doesn’t need to read a user manual to understand the goals. The manner in which the Rubik’s Cube is designed, its visual attributes and structure, make the challenge and the goal obvious. This may be one of the reasons that most Rubik’s Cubes are sold in clear transparent packaging. One interesting point to note is that the goal itself is presented as a challenge.

My reflections:

• How can we present learning goals in a manner that is enticing?
• Instead of presenting boring learning objectives, should we present challenges and problems learners will solve during a learning program?

It is tough but rewarding

If you have ever tried solving a Rubik’s Cube you would know that it is challenging and tough. However, you also know that solving something this challenging can also be extremely rewarding. The rewards range from feeling good about ones capabilities to social recognition. In fact, in popular media like films and comics, the ability to solve the Rubik’s Cube fast establishes a character’s cognitive superiority.

My reflections:

• How can we make the process of learning challenging and rewarding?
• Should learning be simple or  rigorous?
• How can we hit that “Perfect Equilibrium of Skill and Challenge” (from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi ) while designing a learning program?
• How can we design rewards (not just points and badges) that make learners feel truly empowered when they go back to work after a learning program?

It offers clear and complete control, freedom and immediate feedback

These are all extremely simple design principles but make the Rubik’s Cube one of the most engaging puzzles. The player has complete freedom in making a move or changing the configuration. The player also receives immediate feedback. One important point to note about the Rubik’s Cube is that one can try solving the puzzle unlimited number of times with no fear of failure. Put all these design principles together and you get true engagement.

My reflections:

• In the design of learning, we must never forget the 3 design principles of complete control, freedom and immediate feedback
• Make failing at tasks easy
• Make trying and re-trying more important than getting it right

It is oriented towards gaining mastery

Mastery is perhaps the greatest reward and the quest for mastery drives behaviour like nothing else. When I speak to my friends who range from Insurance Actuaries to Underwriters and World of Warcraft players, I realize how important it is for humans to gain mastery in whatever they do. It is the desire to gain mastery that makes tasks addictive and extremely complex skills worth spending hours on. Mastery also turns the locus of control and motivation inside rather than outside a person. The current record for solving a 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube by a human is 5.55 seconds. Ask any Rubik’s Cube player and they will tell you they want to reach those ‘Godly’ speeds.

My reflections:

• How can we design learning programs that help people gain mastery?
• How can we help learners benchmark theirs skills and behaviours?
• How can we offer opportunities for unlimited practice, failure and improvements?

That was my short list of a few mechanics/features that can influence the design of learning program. I invite you to add more in the comment stream below.

Solving the Rubik’s Cube and Flow

Interestingly, while watching videos of people solving the Rubik’s Cube, I found almost all of them displaying the behavioural attributes described by Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his seminal work, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.