What Formulaic Pop Songs Reveal About Hacking Our Learning & Development Programs

Have you ever stopped to think about why certain pop songs are so catchy and memorable? It might seem like it’s all just a matter of personal preference, but the truth is that there are certain formulaic elements that many successful pop songs have in common. And as it turns out, these same formulaic elements can also be found in effective learning and development programs.

Let’s take a deeper dive into three of those songwriting strategies that get us hooked and wanting more.

The Power of Repetition and Reinforcement

Repetition and Reinforcement in Music and Learning

Repeating and reinforcing things can have a big impact on music and learning. You know those songs that you just can’t get out of your head? They use repeating parts to stick with you. Learning works the same way – hearing things over and over can help you remember them better.

Language, Math, and Science Also Use Repetition

New words, math equations, and science concepts can be hard to remember, so teachers use repeating and reviewing to help students remember them. This could be as simple as doing practice problems or reviewing vocabulary lists.

Repetition Can Help Build Good Habits

In music class, if you do something right and get praised for it, you might do it more often because you associate it with feeling good. That’s why teachers sometimes repeat things to help you remember them better. By hearing something over and over again, you can train your brain to associate it with positive feelings, which can make it easier to remember and do in the future.

What Learning Science Tells Us About Repetition and Reinforcement

There are several learning theories that can be applied to demonstrate the benefits of repetition and reinforcement in learning, but let’s just look at a couple:

Behaviorism

This learning theory suggests that behavior is shaped by the environment through the use of rewards and punishments. Repetition and reinforcement are key components of behaviorism, as they can be used to strengthen desired behaviors and weaken undesired one

Spaced Repetition

Main Idea

Repetition and reinforcement have a powerful impact in both pop music and learning.

The Importance of Engaging Introductions

Hooks: Engaging Listeners and Learners

Both pop music and learning programs often use an engaging introduction, or “hook,” to draw in the listener or learner. In pop music, a hook is a memorable melody, guitar riff, or vocal line that catches the listener’s attention and draws them into the song. Similarly, in learning programs, a hook is a thought-provoking question, an interesting anecdote, or a compelling visual that captures the attention of the students and makes them want to learn more.

The Role of Repetition in Pop Music Hooks

In pop music, a hook is often used in the chorus or in the opening bars of a song. The hook is typically repeated multiple times throughout the song to reinforce the listener’s connection with the melody or lyrics. This repetition makes the hook more memorable, and it can even create a sense of anticipation or excitement for the listener as they wait for the hook to come back around.

Using Hooks to Introduce New Learning Material

In learning, a hook is typically used at the beginning of a lesson or a unit to introduce a new concept or topic. The hook might be a real-life example that illustrates the relevance of the material, or it could be a question that challenges the students’ assumptions and gets them thinking critically about the topic. By starting with an engaging hook, educators can capture the students’ attention and create a sense of excitement and curiosity about the material they’re about to learn.

What Learning Science Tells Us About Engaging Introductions

There are several learning theories that can be applied to demonstrate the benefits of repetition and reinforcement in learning, but let’s just look at a couple:

Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction

Gagne’s “gain attention” event of instruction is similar to the concept of creating a hook. Both are techniques used to capture the audience’s attention and create interest in the material being presented.

Attention and Relevance

The attention and relevance principle emphasizes the importance of grabbing learners’ attention and making the material relevant to them can help ensure that the learners are motivated and invested in the material.

Main Idea

Learning programs use hooks, such as thought-provoking questions or real-life examples, to engage and excite students about new material or concepts.

The Value of Clear and Well-Organized Structures

Structure Adds Clarity

One more thing that pop music and learning materials have in common is the use of clear and well-organized structures to make the material more understandable. Just as a song will often have a verse-chorus-verse structure, a learning program might use a similar structure, with key points presented in a logical order and reinforced through repetition.

Coherence Adds Engagement

In pop music, a well-structured song can create a sense of coherence and keep the listener engaged from start to finish. A typical pop song structure might include a verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus, with each section serving a different purpose in the song. The verse might provide exposition or tell a story, while the chorus provides a memorable hook that ties the song together. The bridge might introduce a new idea or melody that leads into the final chorus. By using a clear and well-organized structure, pop songs can take the listener on a journey that’s both satisfying and memorable.

Similarly, learning materials can also benefit from a clear and well-organized structure. Whether it’s a lecture, a book, or an online course, a well-structured learning program can make the material more understandable and engaging for the learner. Key points might be presented in a logical order, with repetition used to reinforce the most important concepts. For example, in language learning, vocabulary words might be introduced in a specific order to build on previous knowledge and reinforce learning. In math, formulas might be introduced in a logical sequence to build the student’s understanding of the topic. By using a clear and well-organized structure, learning materials can create a sense of coherence that makes the material more understandable and memorable.

What Learning Science Tells Us About Structure

In a well-structured learning program, key concepts are often presented in a logical order that builds on previous knowledge and reinforces learning. This can help students remain engaged and motivated by providing them with just enough challenge to make progress, while also giving them the tools they need to succeed.

The Zone of Proximal Development

The use of clear and well-organized structure in learning programs can be highly relevant to many learning theories, including the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). The ZPD is a theory developed by Lev Vygotsky that suggests that the best learning occurs when students are challenged to stretch beyond their current level of competence, but not so much that they become frustrated and disengaged.

Cognitive Load Theory

Other learning theories, such as the cognitive load theory, suggest that a clear and well-organized structure can reduce cognitive overload and make learning more efficient. When information is presented in a logical and coherent manner, students are better able to process and remember the information, which can lead to improved learning outcomes.

Main Idea

Clear and well-organized structure is a key factor in making learning materials more engaging, understandable, and memorable.

Okay, let's wrap this up...

The next time you’re singing along to your favorite pop song, take a moment to appreciate the formulaic elements that make it so catchy. And remember that these same principles can also be applied to design more effective learning and development programs.