The Super Mario Effect - Tricking Your Brain into Learning More | Mark Rober | TEDxPenn

Summary

In this insightful talk, the speaker explores the impact of failure framing on learning and success. Through a programming puzzle experiment involving 50,000 participants, a significant difference in success rates was observed based on whether failure was penalized or not. The speaker suggests that embracing failure as a learning opportunity, akin to a toddler's persistence or the 'Super Mario Effect' in gaming, can lead to greater attempts, learning, and ultimately, success. This reframing of challenges can transform our approach to learning and life's obstacles, making the process more engaging and fruitful.

Takeaways

• 😀 The presenter conducted an experiment with a programming puzzle to demonstrate that anyone can learn to code, but the real aim was to study the impact of failure on learning.
• 🔍 Two versions of the puzzle were presented, with one penalizing players for failure and the other not, revealing a significant difference in success rates between the two groups.
• 📉 The group penalized for failure had a lower success rate of 52% compared to the 68% success rate of the non-penalized group, indicating the psychological impact of failure on performance.
• 🔁 The non-penalized group made nearly two and a half times more attempts to solve the puzzle, suggesting that a positive attitude towards failure can lead to more attempts and learning.
• 💡 The concept of 'life gamification' is introduced as a way to frame challenges and learning processes positively, similar to how toddlers and gamers approach new skills without fear of failure.
• 👶 The example of toddlers learning to walk illustrates the natural human tendency to learn through trial and error without concern for failure.
• 🎮 The 'Super Mario Effect' is described, where the focus on achieving a goal (rescuing the princess) rather than on failure (falling into pits) leads to more learning and success.
• 🛠️ The presenter shares personal anecdotes, including a three-year project to create a moving dartboard, to emphasize the importance of persistence and learning from failure.
• 🎨 The idea that reframing challenges as games can change one's attitude towards them, making the process of learning and failing feel more natural and enjoyable.
• 🎲 A thought experiment is presented to show how the same task can be perceived very differently depending on whether it is framed as a test or a game.
• 📚 The presenter's approach to science communication involves making learning fun and engaging, using creative demonstrations to explain scientific principles and reduce fear of the subject.
• 🏆 The talk concludes with the idea that embracing challenges and viewing life's setbacks as opportunities for learning can lead to more meaningful success and personal growth.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the computer programming puzzle presented to the YouTube followers?

The purpose of the computer programming puzzle was to demonstrate that anyone from any background could learn to code by arranging code blocks to navigate a car through a maze.

What was the hidden objective behind presenting two different versions of the puzzle?

The hidden objective was to test the impact of failure on learning outcomes by comparing the success rates and attempts between the group that faced penalties for failed attempts and the group that did not.

What was the significant difference in success rates between the two groups in the puzzle experiment?

The success rate for those who were penalized for failed attempts was around 52%, while for those who were not penalized, it was 68%, showing a statistically significant difference of 16%.

How did the attempts to solve the puzzle before finding success differ between the two groups?

The group that did not see failing in a negative light made nearly two and a half times more attempts to solve the puzzle before finding success compared to the group that faced penalties.

What is the 'Super Mario Effect' as described in the script?

The 'Super Mario Effect' refers to the attitude of focusing on the end goal and learning from failures without being discouraged by them, similar to how players of Super Mario Bros. approach the game.

How did the speaker's son's learning to walk illustrate the concept of learning without fear of failure?

The speaker's son did not worry about looking foolish if he fell while learning to walk, and his parents did not punish him for failures. The focus was on the end goal, and successes were celebrated, embodying a learning process without fear of failure.

What was the main challenge in building the dartboard that could guarantee a bullseye every time?

The main challenge was to track the dart through the air and move the board to catch a bullseye within the time it takes for a human to blink, which required sophisticated technology and precise calculations.

What was the attitude the speaker adopted towards the failures and setbacks during the dartboard project?

The speaker adopted the same attitude as in the game of Super Mario Bros., treating each failure as an opportunity to learn and improve, rather than a reason to quit.

How did the speaker's experience with the dartboard project relate to the concept of life gamification?

The speaker reframed the challenges of the dartboard project as a game, focusing on the end goal and learning from each failure, which made the process of trying and learning feel natural and enjoyable.

What thought experiment was presented to illustrate the difference between a test and a game in terms of motivation?

The thought experiment involved presenting a series of instructions to push buttons in a specific sequence, first as a test and then as a game with a cool paint job and visual representations of tasks, to highlight how the framing of an activity can affect motivation.

How does the speaker believe reframing challenges can impact learning and success?

The speaker believes that by reframing challenges as games and focusing on the end goal, the fear of failure is reduced, making learning more natural and leading to more success.