Learning Ledger
The cognitive science foundations and strength-first learning design principles that guide everything we build.
By Blue Banana Farm Team
Learning Ledger
The cognitive science foundations and strength-first learning design principles that guide everything we build.
Our Core Belief
Every child has cognitive superpowers. Our job isn't to fix deficits—it's to celebrate and amplify the brilliant ways different minds work.
The Mind Strength Constellation
We focus on four cognitive strengths that are often undervalued in traditional education:
1. Big-Picture Synthesis
What it is: The ability to connect disparate clues, see patterns across contexts, and understand "how it all fits together."
Why it matters: Children with this strength excel at:
- Connecting story elements across episodes
- Understanding cause-and-effect relationships
- Seeing the "big picture" before details
- Making creative leaps between ideas
How we support it:
- Story worlds with interconnected narratives
- Canon/continuity that rewards attention to patterns
- Mysteries that require connecting clues
- Characters who model synthesis thinking
2. Narrative Imagination
What it is: The capacity for storytelling, empathy, world-building, and understanding through narrative.
Why it matters: Children with this strength excel at:
- Creating rich imaginary worlds
- Understanding character motivations
- Predicting story outcomes
- Expressing ideas through stories
How we support it:
- Adaptive story worlds that respond to choices
- Characters with emotional continuity
- Open-ended story prompts
- Opportunities to co-create narratives
3. Dynamic Reasoning
What it is: Understanding cause-and-effect over time, comfort with change, and thinking about systems in motion.
Why it matters: Children with this strength excel at:
- Understanding how actions lead to consequences
- Adapting to changing situations
- Thinking about "what if" scenarios
- Understanding processes and transformations
How we support it:
- Story worlds that remember and evolve
- Consequences that unfold over time
- Characters who grow and change
- Scenarios that explore cause-and-effect
4. Material/Spatial Reasoning
What it is: Tinkering instincts, mental rotation, building, and understanding physical relationships.
Why it matters: Children with this strength excel at:
- Understanding how things work
- Building and creating
- Spatial problem-solving
- Hands-on exploration
How we support it:
- Interactive world elements
- Building/crafting activities
- Spatial puzzles and challenges
- Physical play integration
Strength-First Learning Design
What "Strength-First" Means
Traditional approach: Identify weaknesses → remediate deficits → measure improvement
Our approach: Identify strengths → create opportunities to use them → celebrate growth
Key Principles
-
Multiple Valid Solutions
- Challenges can be solved in different ways
- Different cognitive strengths lead to different approaches
- No single "right" way to engage
-
Process Over Product
- Celebrate effort and thinking, not just outcomes
- Feedback focuses on strategies used
- Growth is visible and valued
-
Cognitive Diversity as Asset
- Different minds bring different gifts
- Characters model various thinking styles
- Strengths are explicitly named and celebrated
-
Scaffolded Challenge
- Start where the child is
- Gradually increase complexity
- Support available when needed
- Success is achievable
Developmental Foundations
Age-Appropriate Design
Ages 2-4 (Teddy Bear Parade, Charlie & the Clouds)
- Simple cause-and-effect
- Emotional recognition and regulation
- Repetition with variation
- Comfort and safety first
Ages 4-6 (Tuckaway Harbor)
- More complex narratives
- Social problem-solving
- Cooperative play
- Beginning pattern recognition
Ages 6-8 (Gator Tales)
- Multi-episode story arcs
- Character development
- Moral reasoning
- Community dynamics
Ages 8+ (Curious Guide to AI)
- Abstract thinking
- Meta-cognition
- Tool mastery
- Creative application
Emotional Safety
Learning happens best when children feel:
- Safe: No scary surprises or harsh consequences
- Valued: Their thinking is celebrated
- Capable: Challenges are achievable
- Curious: Wonder is encouraged
Learning Loop Design
The Curiosity Cycle
- Wonder: Something interesting catches attention
- Explore: Child investigates at their own pace
- Discover: Pattern or insight emerges
- Connect: New understanding links to existing knowledge
- Apply: Child uses new insight in new context
- Celebrate: Growth is recognized and valued
Adaptive Scaffolding
Our AI-powered story engine adapts to:
- Pace: Some children need more time, others want to race ahead
- Complexity: Gradually increase challenge as mastery grows
- Interest: Follow the child's curiosity
- Strength: Lean into what the child does well
Parent/Educator Partnership
Strength Bloom Cards (Coming)
Privacy-first artifacts that help adults understand:
- Which cognitive strengths their child is using
- How their child approaches challenges
- What kinds of activities energize them
- How to support continued growth
Privacy commitment: No child data leaves the device. Parents/educators opt-in to receive insights.
Educator Resources
We're building:
- Printable activity guides
- Strength-spotting frameworks
- Classroom integration ideas
- Professional development materials
Research Foundations
Our approach draws from:
- Cognitive psychology: How children think and learn
- Developmental science: Age-appropriate design
- Neurodiversity research: Celebrating cognitive differences
- Learning sciences: Evidence-based instructional design
- Narrative psychology: How stories shape understanding
What We're NOT Doing
No Deficit Framing
We don't:
- Label children as "behind"
- Focus on what they can't do
- Compare children to arbitrary norms
- Pathologize different ways of thinking
No Gamification Tricks
We don't:
- Use points/badges to manipulate behavior
- Create artificial scarcity or FOMO
- Exploit psychological vulnerabilities
- Prioritize engagement over wellbeing
No Data Extraction
We don't:
- Collect child personal information
- Track behavior for advertising
- Sell data to third parties
- Create detailed child profiles
Measuring Success
What We Track (Aggregate, Anonymous)
- Which story paths are most engaging
- Where children get stuck or confused
- Which cognitive strengths are being used
- How long children stay engaged
What We DON'T Track
- Individual child identities
- Personal information
- Cross-site behavior
- Detailed performance metrics
What Success Looks Like
- Children are curious and engaged
- Parents/educators see cognitive growth
- Different thinking styles are celebrated
- Learning feels like play
Living Document
This ledger will grow as we learn. We'll share:
- New research insights
- Design pattern discoveries
- Educator feedback
- Parent observations
Questions?
We're always happy to discuss our learning design approach. Educators and researchers: we'd love to hear your perspectives and collaborate on making this work even better.
Related Reading:
- Cognitive Strengths Learning Design - Deep dive into our approach
- Dual Safety Checks Explained - How we keep content safe
- Start Here: Year One - Our mission and approach