#212 Wordle
Most recently social media has been awash with various configurations of grey/black, yellow and green squares (see above image). Whilst initially appearing to be very random, they are indeed a pictorial representation of the daily Wordle quiz.
Whilst Wordle may not seem to have an obvious connection to the world of educational leadership, I can not help but think that there is one.
But first, a little about the quiz. Simply put, the aim is to solve the five letter word within the limitations of six attempts.
For letters in the correct place of the target word, the space turns green. For a correct letter, but in the wrong place, the space is yellow and for an incorrect letter, the space will be grey.
Since the target word is the same for everyone on the same day the grey/black, yellow, and green squares indicate a participant’s success (or lack thereof) in solving the target word for the day without giving the answer away for those yet to do it. Within each Wordle there is familiarity (a blank slate, see image below).
With a pool of 2500 five letter words, it is evident that participants - whilst seeking the solution to the problem (the target word) - have a lot of options. Some people always start with the same word.
Others swear blind to use different starting words each day with as many vowels as possible, others with a higher number of consonants.
You may now be asking, how does Wordle connect to educational leadership?
As leaders, we face obstacles.
Sometimes the problems have only one possible outcome (as with Wordle), other times a range of options may be possible.
Regardless …
… we draw on various pieces of information/data,
… we come up with best options,
… we use various strategies,
… we generate solutions,
… we present the most appropriate solution based on the information/data available to us at that time.
Sometimes we have all the information we need and reaching the best solution is easy, quick and painless. Other times, it can - for reasons beyond our control - be a long, drawn out and fraught process. Sometimes we just get lucky.
Case in point, my results from this last week clearly illustrate the element of luck (in terms of the number of green and yellow squares in the first line) and strategy as I progressed towards line six in solving the day's problem.
Give Wordle a go. You may just enjoy it!
And should you want to learn more about it, do read Wordle Is a Love Story (The New York Times).
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