M4 Reinforcement

 

M4-Reinforcement

I shared this quiz with a friend and recorded their reactions to the questions. The experience reminded me how easily we misunderstand or overlook information not because we aren’t paying attention, but because we’re influenced by assumptions and the way content is delivered.

 Friend's Answers to 3 Selected Questions:

1. Q: What color is the bear?
   Answer: “Brown”
   Correct Answer: White (it’s a polar bear, the house must be at the North Pole if all sides face south)
2. Q: What do you light first?
   Answer: “The fireplace”
   Correct Answer: The match, without it, you can’t light anything else
3. Q: What color are the bus driver’s eyes?
   Answer: "You didn’t say!"
   Correct Answer: Your own eye color “You are the driver.”

My friend laughed as we reviewed the answers, realizing how the way the questions were presented completely shaped their thinking. This exercise was a perfect demonstration of how storytelling + listening = cognitive engagement.

Storytelling creates a narrative frame that activates imagination and attention. When people are pulled into a story, they listen not just for content but for meaning. The questions in this activity used misdirection and embedded clues — like riddles wrapped in short stories. This technique:

• Makes learners process language carefully
• Encourages critical thinking
• Builds retention through emotional and humorous reactions
• Creates a safe space for failure and learning

 

Can These Be Adapted for the Classroom?

Yes! Listening challenges like these are great tools for:

• Icebreakers in a communication course
• Listening comprehension activities in ESL/ELL classes
• Teaching critical thinking in logic or psychology

 

 

 If I Were to Design a Similar Activity…

Here’s what I’d include:

• Short, story-based scenarios that require attention to detail
• One-question prompts that seem simple but have hidden twists
• Limited repeats to heighten focus
• A debrief discussion after each question to explain the trap or reveal

Example of an added challenge:

You walk into a room with 2 doors. One leads to certain death, the other to freedom. A guard tells you to pick wisely, but speaks no more. One guard always lies, one always tells the truth….what question do you ask?