The Super Mario Effect - Tricking Your Brain into Learning More | Mark Rober | TEDxPenn
TEDx Talks
15 min, 9 sec
The video discusses the Super Mario Effect, a learning psychology concept that suggests framing challenges like video games can lead to more success and learning.
Summary
- The presenter conducted a puzzle experiment with YouTube followers to observe the impact of failure framing on learning.
- Participants who weren't penalized for mistakes had a higher success rate and made more attempts to solve the puzzle.
- The Super Mario Effect focuses on end goals and success rather than failures, leading to increased learning and perseverance.
- Examples from the presenter's life and projects, like the interactive dartboard, illustrate the application of this concept.
- Reframing learning experiences to be more like games can remove the fear of failure and make the process more engaging and effective.
Chapter 1
The presenter introduces a programming puzzle experiment conducted with YouTube followers.
- 50,000 YouTube followers were invited to solve a programming puzzle to prove anyone can learn to code.
- The puzzle involved arranging code blocks to navigate a car through a maze, using typical programming operations.
Chapter 2
Details of the puzzle experiment are shared with the distinction between two versions and the surprising results.
- Two versions of the puzzle were randomly served: one with point penalties for failure and one without.
- The version without penalties had a 68% success rate, while the penalized version had a 52% success rate.
- Participants who were not penalized for failure made approximately 2.5 times more attempts, leading to more learning.
Chapter 3
The presenter discusses how toddlers and video game players approach learning and failure.
- Toddlers, like the presenter's son learning to walk, do not fear failure and are encouraged for their successes.
- Video gamers are focused on achieving the goal, not deterred by in-game deaths, leading to learning from failures.
Chapter 4
The presenter describes the Super Mario Effect, which encourages focusing on goals rather than obstacles.
- The Super Mario Effect is about concentrating on the end goal and learning from the journey, not the setbacks.
- By reframing challenges like a game, people can learn more and persist through failures.
Chapter 5
The presenter shares personal examples where the Super Mario Effect influenced his projects and learning.
- The creation of the world's largest Super Soaker and Nerf gun are examples of using the Super Mario Effect.
- An interactive dartboard project that took three years to complete demonstrates persistence through failure.
Chapter 6
The presenter advocates for reframing learning processes to make them more engaging and less failure-focused.
- By changing the framing of tasks from 'test' to 'game,' engagement and willingness to try increase.
- The presenter uses his science YouTube channel to 'gamify' learning, making it more appealing and less intimidating.
Chapter 7
The presenter concludes with thoughts on embracing life's challenges as if they were games.
- Life's meaningful accomplishments often come from overcoming repeated failures, similar to video game challenges.
- The presenter believes that using the Super Mario Effect can lead to more success and learning in life.
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