Learning Dominoes

Domino is the name of a game in which people stack square-shaped tiles on top of each other and then knock them down. The dominoes have different identifying markings on each side and some are blank. Dominoes may be made of wood, ceramic, or plastic. They are normally twice as long as they are wide. The identifying marks, or pips, on each piece are arranged in rows of six, with one row containing an odd number and the other even. Dominoes can also be called bones, cards, tiles, men, stones, spinners, or tickets.

The game of domino is popular among children and adults. Some players set up elaborate chains of dominoes and then try to knock them down. Other players create domino shows, where they build intricate domino displays for an audience of fans. In some cases, the dominoes take several nail-biting minutes to fall.

In 1983, a professor of physics named Lorne Whitehead published an article that demonstrates what’s known as the “domino chain reaction.” The idea is simple: starting with just one domino, you can demonstrate exponential growth by placing another domino on top of it that is 50% larger than the first. Then you can place another one on top of that, and so on.

Like dominoes, the systems that make up our organizations are interconnected and changes in one area impact the entire system. For example, if you are trying to introduce a new technology or strategy to your organization, it’s important to think about how the system will change. You will want to avoid the domino effect, in which a single piece falls and causes all of the other pieces to collapse before you’ve finished building.

Some learning challenges impact students the way a falling domino impacts a line. When a student compensates for a weakness, they start to develop skills in ways that will prevent them from developing the skill properly. Over time, these compensatory skills may start to have a negative impact on their success in other areas of the curriculum or on their life outside school.

As a bodyguard to the genius mutant Milo Thurman, Neena Thurman (better known as Domino) developed a talent for predicting the future. Her powers led her into the clandestine Weapon X program where she was genetically engineered for the ultimate super-weapon. She later joined the mercenary team called Six Pack and became an ally of the time-traveling mutant Cable. The emotion-manipulating Psycho-Man once made Domino attack Copycat, who she resented for her role in her year-long captivity. She also fought alongside the Micronauts against the ancient mutant-devouring Skornn entity.