#Hard Fun

[anartificialsatellite]

The older I get the more I admire people who are earnestly, genuinely into whatever their thing is. I know it sounds like an annoying cliche but unless you're being cruel or hurtful there is really no need to be normal about things. The dude with the bad fake accent at the renaissance faire is having the time of his life. The people having photoshoots with their fashion dolls are loving it. The old lady with a yard unreasonably full of tacky ass lawn ornaments is having a blast, HOA be damned.

Don't waste your time being too cool to have fun, y'know?

[astriiformes]

Really says something about the dire state of offerings for men interested in sewing their own clothes that even searching things like "interesting men's clothing patterns" brings up articles with links to four or five whole websites that primarily offer admittedly nice but practically identical patterns for making button-ups and work pants and maybe a varsity/bomber jacket if you're lucky.

(Branching out into historical costuming for everyday wear is like your one shot at variation, and even then, the ratio of men's to women's patterns on every website is frustrating to say the least.)

Patternmakers as a trans man I am begging you. Give me a little more to work with here.

[inkskinned]

she's singing in another room and my dog is asleep at my feet. my grandma asked me why i haven't found a man yet and i laughed. oh, you know. i like my house clean.

my girlfriend is also my man is also "my partner" if i'm in a professional setting. yesterday we went to a ren faire and a man mimed at me - you're together? and at my delighted nod, his baffled, you're gay? made me laugh. a woman with rainbow hair said i love the two of you together. you're both so beautiful it's absurd.

my dad introduced my partner as my "..... friend. or whatever" the other day. he knows we're dating. in the same way, i was never able to get my sister's husband to stop saying that's gay like it's 2008. he still uses the word fa***t, and my sister's defense of him has always been well, he's just kidding.

my lover and i dance to old music in a tiny kitchen. we judge new music together and take food critique very seriously. we watch love is blind before we fall asleep and agree that if they had a queer season, it would be bloody but also make for excellent tv. of fucking course queer people would know someone for only 2 weeks and agree to get married. what are you saying.

at a bar with friends, a man puts his hand on my wrist. got a boyfriend? and yes, i do have a boyfriend, she's amazing. i am texting her while i wander around a gas station named after geese. i am visiting a swing state for a wedding. in the candy aisle i overhear: she's actually like a lesbian it's disgusting. two teenage girls with packaged sandwiches in their hands, giggling. no literally, like. i'm not, like. okay with her being there while we're all, like, naked and changing.

my girlfriend and i tailgate, drink gin and cider out of cups. from the frat group beside us, a man corrects himself with one of his friends: bro, i mean, nonbinary entity, and it makes everyone around him laugh, myself included. he razzes his friend the same way i would have killed for at 19 years old - like nothing happened, he continues: you apply sunscreen like an alien. he does a little sassy (and fairly accurate) dance interpretation of the motion. his friend is laughing so hard they're crying.

i am lucky, i live in a safe neighborhood in a safe state. my masc passenger princess comes up from DC. i drive her for an hour to where all the leaves are a violent arrangement of color. we walk along the trails, letting autumn into our blood. in this part of the state, there's a lot of pickup trucks and trump signs. when we chastely kiss before getting into the car, i accidentally make eye contact with a woman holding her child's wrist. she looks disgusted. she looks fucking pissed.

two hours later my girl and i are eating dinner on a patio, soaking in the last warmth of new england sun before the chill of winter sets in. we are giggling and trying to talk through plastic vampire teeth. at another table, i see a young woman sit up straighter. i watch her watch us. she blushes and takes her partner's hand from across the table. shy, like the taste of evening has just become something deeper.

it's worth it for this moment, i think. my lover is still humming the same song she's been singing for four days straight and i don't want to kill her for it. her guitar is beside my bed. her toothbrush is in my bathroom. in a few moments i will make us lunch. we are lucky enough to have found each other. it is lucky enough to be in love.

[housederiva]

Gaby Soto is a gift

Edit: I missed one!

[xxacidnekoxx]

✨✨me and my friends watch that singing alien!👽✨✨

[koddlet]

personal rules for winter ❄

[ciderbird]

academic bias is so funny because you’ll be reading about the same historical event and one person is like “Despite the troubles that befell his homeland and near constant criticism of the court King Blorbo remained strong in the face of adversity” and the other one is like “after letting his people carry the brunt of his cringefail decisions Blorbo the Shitface refused to listen to any reason and continued to be a warmongering piece of shit. Also he was ugly.”

[maxlearnmicrolearningplatform]

Using Nicole Lazzaro’s 4 Fun Types for Engaging Microlearning Gamification

Gamification has revolutionized the way we approach learning and development. By incorporating game elements into educational content, we can significantly boost engagement, motivation, and retention. One influential framework for understanding and implementing gamification in learning is Nicole Lazzaro's 4 Fun Types. This model identifies four distinct types of fun that cater to different aspects of the human experience: Hard Fun, Easy Fun, Serious Fun, and People Fun. Each type offers unique strategies for creating highly engaging microlearning experiences. Let's explore how you can use Nicole Lazzaro's 4 Fun Types to design compelling microlearning gamification.

Understanding Nicole Lazzaro’s 4 Fun Types

Nicole Lazzaro, a renowned game designer and researcher, developed the 4 Fun Types model to describe the various ways people experience fun in games. Her framework helps educators and designers understand the diverse elements that make activities enjoyable and engaging. Here's a brief overview of each type:

Hard Fun: This type involves overcoming challenges and achieving goals. It’s characterized by problem-solving, mastery, and the satisfaction that comes from accomplishment.

Easy Fun: This type focuses on exploration, curiosity, and imagination. It’s about the joy of discovering new things, playing with possibilities, and enjoying the process.

Serious Fun: This type connects to meaningful experiences and real-world impact. It involves activities that resonate with personal values and create a sense of purpose.

People Fun: This type emphasizes social interaction, competition, and cooperation. It’s about the fun that comes from being with others, sharing experiences, and building relationships.

Applying the 4 Fun Types to Microlearning Gamification

Each of these fun types can be effectively incorporated into microlearning to create a holistic and engaging learning experience. Here’s how:

1. Hard Fun: Mastery Through Challenges

Incorporate Challenges and Quests

Hard Fun is driven by challenges and the sense of achievement that comes from overcoming them. To incorporate this into microlearning, design modules that include challenging tasks, puzzles, and quests. For instance, a microlearning course on coding can feature progressively difficult coding challenges that learners must solve to advance.

Provide Clear Goals and Feedback

Setting clear goals and providing immediate feedback is crucial for Hard Fun. Each microlearning module should have specific objectives, and learners should receive instant feedback on their performance. This helps learners understand their progress and areas for improvement.

Use Leaderboards and Badges

Leaderboards and badges can enhance Hard Fun by adding a competitive element. Displaying a leaderboard that shows top performers or awarding badges for completing specific challenges can motivate learners to push themselves further.

2. Easy Fun: Exploration and Creativity

Encourage Exploration

Easy Fun is about the joy of discovery and creativity. Design microlearning content that encourages exploration and experimentation. For example, a microlearning module on graphic design can allow learners to play with different design tools and create their own artworks.

Use Interactive Elements

Interactive elements such as simulations, drag-and-drop activities, and clickable infographics can make learning more playful and engaging. These elements invite learners to explore content in a non-linear way, fostering curiosity.

Include Easter Eggs and Surprises

Hidden Easter eggs or unexpected surprises can add an element of delight to microlearning. These can be fun facts, bonus content, or mini-games that learners discover as they navigate through the modules.

3. Serious Fun: Meaningful and Impactful Learning

Connect Learning to Real-World Impact

Serious Fun involves connecting learning activities to real-world applications and personal values. Microlearning modules should highlight the practical relevance of the content. For example, a microlearning course on environmental sustainability can show how learners' actions can positively impact the environment.

Incorporate Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful way to create meaningful learning experiences. Use narratives that resonate with learners’ values and experiences. For instance, a microlearning module on leadership can include stories of real leaders who made a significant impact, inspiring learners to apply these lessons in their own lives.

Offer Reflection Opportunities

Encourage learners to reflect on their learning and how it applies to their personal or professional life. Reflection questions, journals, or discussion prompts can help deepen the connection between the content and the learner’s values.

4. People Fun: Social Interaction and Collaboration

Foster Social Learning

People Fun thrives on social interaction. Incorporate social learning elements such as discussion forums, group projects, and peer reviews into microlearning. These interactions can enhance engagement and create a sense of community.

Design Collaborative Activities

Design activities that require collaboration and teamwork. For example, a microlearning module on project management can include a group task where learners must work together to plan and execute a project.

Leverage Social Media and Sharing

Encourage learners to share their achievements and learning experiences on social media or within an internal platform. This not only promotes a sense of accomplishment but also inspires others to engage with the content.

Integrating the 4 Fun Types into a Comprehensive Microlearning Experience

To create a truly engaging microlearning experience, it’s important to integrate all four fun types into your design. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Identify Learning Objectives: Start by clearly defining what you want learners to achieve. This will help you align the fun types with your educational goals.

Segment Content into Modules: Break down the content into bite-sized modules that focus on specific topics or skills. Each module should be short and to the point, typically no longer than 5-10 minutes.

Incorporate Diverse Fun Types: Ensure each module incorporates elements of Hard Fun, Easy Fun, Serious Fun, and People Fun. This could mean including a challenging task (Hard Fun), an interactive element (Easy Fun), a real-world application (Serious Fun), and a social component (People Fun).

Use Multimedia and Interactivity: Leverage multimedia tools such as videos, animations, and interactive simulations to make the content more engaging. Interactive quizzes and activities can enhance learner involvement.

Provide Feedback and Rewards: Offer immediate feedback and reward learners with badges, certificates, or points. This not only motivates learners but also provides a sense of accomplishment.

Encourage Reflection and Application: Include reflective questions and prompts that encourage learners to think about how they can apply what they’ve learned. This helps in reinforcing the content and making it more relevant.

Promote Social Interaction: Create opportunities for learners to interact with each other. This could be through discussion boards, group activities, or social media sharing.

Monitor and Iterate: Continuously monitor learner engagement and feedback. Use this data to iterate and improve your microlearning modules, ensuring they remain relevant and effective.

Conclusion

Nicole Lazzaro’s 4 Fun Types provide a comprehensive framework for creating highly engaging microlearning gamification. By incorporating Hard Fun, Easy Fun, Serious Fun, and People Fun into your microlearning design, you can cater to different aspects of the human experience, making learning not only effective but also enjoyable.

In today's fast-paced world, where attention spans are short and learners are bombarded with information, leveraging these fun types can help create microlearning experiences that stand out. They can inspire and motivate learners, leading to better retention and application of knowledge. By understanding and applying Lazzaro's 4 Fun Types, educators and instructional designers can transform microlearning into a powerful tool for personal and professional development.

[corrodedparadox]

⚠️

[capybara-platypus]

so uh apparently no ones done this yet. behold the touden friends. smiling meshi. delicious in friends. etc.

[mawguai]

Went to go see the Wild Robot recently! it was a lot of fun :D

[crumb-crumblet-s-crumbington]

i redesigned the transformers one cast in the style of transformers animated!

[pangur-and-grim]

grr having one of those days where my leg hurts so much that I might use a cane if I go out 💀

[papajoolia]

drew my roommate's cat as a knight for her for christmas, his name is ghost pepper

[batbabydamian]

*you opening the love letter* what does your damijon look like, pls pls pls pls pls pls pls, i know it would be so cute, i just know it 🙏🙏🙏

here you go! thank you for the ask, this was a lot of fun to do! they're working on a case together ^^

[butterfriedcircuits]

based off my friend's commentary whilst watching the 'Orion Pax' arc of Transformers Prime:

"I'm sorry, but if i woke up from a million year 'coma' and you asked me to call you 'LORD'... you need humbling'

edit: friend is @machinatings <3 they are slowly watching transformers