Contact Me
LATEST NEWS

Learning Through Play: Different Flows and Outcomes

What is a lesson flow?

A lesson flow is a user experience
that has a learning outcome.
It is the way kids and adults will interact
with the physical and digital elements,
so they can learn something.

A typical flow I have used looks like this...

arrow
01
explore
Explore

Kids are presented with a topic, with either a problem to solve or a question to answer. This phase is designed to connect the activity to the child's acquired knowledge, and essential items to activate their motivation.

arrow
02
build
Create

Kids are engaged in building something using LEGO Bricks and activating their creating using programming blocks.

This phase is messy!

It's composed of back and forth, building and unbuilding. That is how we learn!

03
share
Share

Kids present their projects. It is intrinsic to motivation and learning to share success. Either done through video recording or simple presentations, kids should be able to explain their process when skills are acquired.

but I have also modulated it in many way!

1Interact with logged data
Play Experience

Use a model to interact with logged data

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using data logging blocks
  4. Try with the model, and following a graph
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at it!
2Internet of Things
Play Experience

using real life world data to activate a creation

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using blocks linked to online data
  4. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. and 3.
  5. Share
Have a look at it!
3“What is this”
Play Experience

“Reverse Engineer” the function of a model

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Use a predefined program to activate the model
  4. Reflect on what this creation could be used for.
  5. Prepare a presentation to explain what is this “next best thing”
  6. Share
Have a look at it!
4 Design you own part
Play Experience

Create a functional attachment to a base model

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Build a part of a model
  3. Build-in your own way the other part of the model
  4. Program to activate the model
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at it!
5 Match the actions
Play Experience

Create a program that will replicate the actions of the model, as seen from a video

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Watch a video of the actions to replicate
  3. Build a model
  4. Program to recreate the action like in the video
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at it!
6 Fix the program
Play Experience

Fix mistakes of a program so the actions match the actions presented from a video

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Watch a video of the actions to replicate
  3. Build a model
  4. Use a predefined program that contains mistakes (it creates actions that are not the same from the video)
  5. Correct the program according to the video
  6. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 5.
  7. Share
Have a look at it!
7Fix the model
Play Experience

Fix building mistakes so the model can work as intented.

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Watch a video of the actions to replicate
  3. Build a model that contains mistakes (hey hey !)
  4. Use a predefined program
  5. Correct the model so it actually works
  6. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 5.
  7. Share
Have a look at it!
8Visualise abstract data 1
Play Experience

Illustrate abstract data using a model behaviour

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using blocks linked to online data
  4. Collect data of forecast rain for a week and display it in the model
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. and 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at it!

9Visualise abstract data 2 Play Experience

Illustrate abstract data using a Line graph Tool

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using data logging blocks
  4. Realize an experiment to log and trace real-life data
  5. Change some parameters and trace again
  6. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. and 5.
  7. Share
Have a look at it!
10Intracting with a Mat
Play Experience

Play with a robot in interaction with a surface

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using blocks
  4. Play the program on a playing surface and have fun with its interactions
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. and 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at it!
If you read only this

I have created over 10 playful learning flows using LEGO elements.

Each of these flows has its own characteristics and is designed to generate learning outcome.

More importantly, it is designed to create motivation to learn, as it is one of the most important ingredients to be engaged in a project.

Treasure Hunt Alert!

Visit 2 links, collect 2 clues: next link here, then: X mark the spot here

Good Luck Pirate!

(And take a moment to read this article while you are here 🙂 )

What is a lesson flow?

A flow is a user experience
that has a learning outcome.
It is the way kids and adults will interact
with the physical and digital elements,
so they can learn something.

This playful flow is amazingly effective when: the task is meaningful, allow for iterative learning loops, and brings people together.

A typical flow I have used looks like this...

arrow
01
explore
Explore

Kids are presented with a topic, with either a problem to solve, or a question to answer. This phase is designed to connect the activity to the child's acquired knowledge, and essential item to activate their motivation.

arrow
02
build
Create

Kids are engaged in building something using LEGO Bricks, and activating their creating using programming blocks.

This phase is messy!

It's composed of back and forth, building and unbuilding. That is how we learn!

03
share
Share

Kids present their projects. It is intrinsic to motivation and learning to share success. Either done through video recording or simple presentations, kids should be able to explain their process when skills are acquired.

but I have also modulated it in many way!

1Interact with logged data
Play Experience

Use a model to interact with logged data

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using data logging blocks
  4. Try with the model, and following a graph
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
2Internet of Things
Play Experience

using real life world data to activate a creation

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using blocks linked to online data
  4. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. and 3.
  5. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
3“What is this”
Play Experience

“Reverse Engineer” the function of a model

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Use a predefined program to activate the model
  4. Reflect on what this creation could be used for.
  5. Prepare a presentation to explain what is this “next best thing”
  6. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
4 Design you own part
Play Experience

Create a functional attachment to a base model

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Build a part of a model
  3. Build in your own way the other part of the model
  4. Program to activate the model
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
5 Match the actions
Play Experience

Create a program that will replicate the actions of the model, as seen from a video

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Watch a video of the actions to replicate
  3. Build a model
  4. Program to recreate the action like in the video
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
6 Fix the program
Play Experience

Fix mistakes of a program so the actions match the actions presented from a video

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Watch a video of the actions to replicate
  3. Build a model
  4. Use a predefined program that contain mistakes (it creates actions that are not the same from the video)
  5. Correct the program according to the video
  6. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 5.
  7. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
7Fix the model
Play Experience

Fix building mistakes so the model can work as intented.

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Watch a video of the actions to replicate
  3. Build a model that contain mistakes (hey hey !)
  4. Use a predefined program
  5. Correct the model so it actually works
  6. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. to 5.
  7. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
8Visualise abstract data 1
Play Experience

Illustrate abstract data using a model behaviour

This flow would look like:
  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using blocks linked to online data
  4. Collect data of forecast rain for a week and display it in the model
  5. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. and 4.
  6. Share
Have a look at the lesson video

9Visualise abstract data 2 Play Experience

Illustrate abstract data using a Line graph Tool

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using data logging blocks
  4. Realize an experiment to log and trace real life data
  5. Change some parameters and trace again
  6. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. and 5.
  7. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
10Intracting with a Mat
Play Experience

Illustrate abstract data using a Line graph Tool

This flow would look like:

  1. Explore
  2. Build a model
  3. Program using data logging blocks
  4. Realize an experiment to log and trace real life data
  5. Change some parameters and trace again
  6. Have fun while changing and repeating 2. and 5.
  7. Share
Have a look at the lesson video
If you read only this

A lesson flow is a user experience that has a learning outcome. It is the way kids and adults will interact with the physical and digital elements, so they can learn something. This lesson flow is amazingly effective when: the task is meaningful, allow for iterative learning loops, and brings people together.

I have created through exploration and testing, more then 15 different learning flows, for a total of 90+ lessons each translated in 22+ languages around the world (around 2000 learning through play experiences around the world).

I have seen so many transformative journey taking place in schools and companies. I can't wait to design more learning through play experiences.