Design by, with, and for Neurodivergent Learners: Part 4 — Zoombinis Allergic Cliffs Expression Scaffold
By Teon Edwards
As presented in an earlier blog of this series, our work and research showed that neurodivergent players often excelled at the game Zoombinis. This logic, data visualization, and problem-solving game allowed some neurodivergent learners to both use and demonstrate some of their strengths. However, the game wasn’t designed with these players in mind, and it could present barriers, in addition to opportunities.
In the Zoombinis puzzle Allergic Cliffs, players try to get their Zoombinis across a chasm by figuring out a rule. There’s a cliff face below each of the bridges, and these faces are allergic to some of the Values of the Zoombinis—e.g., flattop hair, dot eyes, a blue nose, or sneaker feet—which affects which Zoombinis can get across each bridge. Each time the puzzle is played, the allergies change. Thus, players must figure out HOW to solve the puzzle, not learn solutions to the puzzle.
Just by getting Zoombinis successfully across the bridges, players demonstrate their skill and implicit understanding. For learning, however, especially in a classroom setting, being able to make one’s understanding explicit can be important. So as part of INFACT (DOE; EIR-U411C190179), where we designed, tested, and conducted research on Executive Function (EF) scaffolds, we designed, built, and tested an Expression Tool.*
The rule for the first level of the Allergic Cliffs puzzle can be expressed by an IF-THEN-ELSE statement. One of the cliffs is allergic to just one of the five Values for one of the Zoombinis Attributes. For example, maybe the cliff below the bottom bridge is allergic to Sneakers FEET. This means the cliff below the top bridge is allergic to the other four Values of FEET: Wheels, Propeller, Spring, and Skates.
Our Expression Tool scaffold simply encourages players who have gotten all or most of their Zoombinis across to pause briefly, examine which Zoombinis got across each bridge, consider their understanding of the rule, and try to fill in an IF-THEN-ELSE statement. This final step is part of metacognition… as well as learning so one can be more successful with the game!
With the right scaffolds, you can cross that bridge when you come to it!
* Unfortunately, the Expression Tool is not generally available currently.
Coming soon in the Designing by, with, and for Neurodivergent Learners series:
Part 5 — Brightness Controls
Part 6 — Red Alert
Part 7 — Word Cards
Part 8 — Anatomy of Activities
As presented in an earlier blog of this series, our work and research showed that neurodivergent players often excelled at the game Zoombinis. This logic, data visualization, and problem-solving game allowed some neurodivergent learners to both use and demonstrate some of their strengths. However, the game wasn’t designed with these players in mind, and it could present barriers, in addition to opportunities.
In the Zoombinis puzzle Allergic Cliffs, players try to get their Zoombinis across a chasm by figuring out a rule. There’s a cliff face below each of the bridges, and these faces are allergic to some of the Values of the Zoombinis—e.g., flattop hair, dot eyes, a blue nose, or sneaker feet—which affects which Zoombinis can get across each bridge. Each time the puzzle is played, the allergies change. Thus, players must figure out HOW to solve the puzzle, not learn solutions to the puzzle.
Just by getting Zoombinis successfully across the bridges, players demonstrate their skill and implicit understanding. For learning, however, especially in a classroom setting, being able to make one’s understanding explicit can be important. So as part of INFACT (DOE; EIR-U411C190179), where we designed, tested, and conducted research on Executive Function (EF) scaffolds, we designed, built, and tested an Expression Tool.*
The rule for the first level of the Allergic Cliffs puzzle can be expressed by an IF-THEN-ELSE statement. One of the cliffs is allergic to just one of the five Values for one of the Zoombinis Attributes. For example, maybe the cliff below the bottom bridge is allergic to Sneakers FEET. This means the cliff below the top bridge is allergic to the other four Values of FEET: Wheels, Propeller, Spring, and Skates.
Our Expression Tool scaffold simply encourages players who have gotten all or most of their Zoombinis across to pause briefly, examine which Zoombinis got across each bridge, consider their understanding of the rule, and try to fill in an IF-THEN-ELSE statement. This final step is part of metacognition… as well as learning so one can be more successful with the game!
With the right scaffolds, you can cross that bridge when you come to it!
* Unfortunately, the Expression Tool is not generally available currently.
9/8/2025
AuthorTeon Edwards is the director and a co-founder of EdGE at TERC. Her current work focuses on the use of virtual reality and other technologies to design and develop inclusive STEM learning experiences, with a particular focus on neurodiversity and sensory, attention, and social differences.
SummaryTeon Edwards, PI of Broadening Participation in Informal STEM Learning for Autistic Learners and Others through Virtual Reality, describes how designers encourage metacognition in the game Zoombinis.
More Posts in this Series- Part 1 — Introduction
- Part 2 — Computational Thinking Posters
- Part 3 — Zoombinis Allergic Cliffs Flashlight Scaffold
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