Let's Make Learning Irresistible

Twenty years ago, an edu hero of ours, Professor Mick Waters challenged schools to “make learning irresistible”. Perhaps it’s time to ask the question again.

In his 2006 Tes article, Mick argued that if we are serious about learning, “we have to bring it to life.” He suggested that the challenge was not simply the content we teach, but “the way it meets the learner” - and encouraged schools to be confident enough to do things differently.

Two decades on, those ideas feel remarkably relevant.

Because what does irresistible learning actually look like?

Perhaps sometimes, it sounds like this:

“This is THE BEST Maths lesson EVER!”

Or this:

“I love Tagtiv8 because it gets my brain active.”

And sometimes, it is as simple as:

“I really enjoyed it. I wish we could do maths like this every day.”

These aren't claims from a marketing department. They are children describing how learning felt to them.

With Tagtiv8, children don't simply sit and listen. They move, retrieve, think, talk, solve problems, make decisions, work together and have another go. The physical challenge becomes part of the learning experience - helping to create lessons where children are actively involved rather than waiting for their turn.

As one pupil put it:

“With Tagtiv8, you don’t get a chance to be bored... you don’t zone out.”

That matters.

Irresistible learning isn't about making every lesson a game. And it certainly isn't about replacing good teaching with entertainment. It is about asking a more fundamental question:

How can we make children want to participate in their learning?

Twenty years ago, Mick Waters told us to “press the play button”.

Perhaps today, we need to press it again.

Because when children want another go, want to solve the next challenge and want to learn again tomorrow, something important has happened.

Learning has become irresistible.