Domino is a game of skill and strategy that involves placing dominoes in rows to create combinations. Players must move one domino at a time to prevent them from falling before they’re built up. One small movement can impact the whole line of dominoes, creating a chain reaction. Some learning challenges can have similar impacts on students. Compensating for a weakness by adding work or shortcuts can actually slow a student’s progress and create more issues. This approach can have a “domino effect” in that it may cause a student to become overloaded, leading to a drop in performance or even failure.
The term domino is most commonly used to describe a set of connected pieces, often rectangular, that form a structure in the shape of a house. Each domino is typically twice as long as it is wide and features a line on one side that visually divides the piece into two squares, each of which can bear identifying marks such as dots or numbers. The identifying marks on each domino are called pips, and the total number of pips determines its value. Some dominoes also feature blank or identically patterned sides, as well.
In the past, dominoes have been made of a variety of materials including stone (such as marble, granite or soapstone), other types of wood (including ebony, walnut and cedar); metals (usually brass or pewter); and ceramic clay. More recently, sets have been manufactured from polymer materials such as polystyrene, ABS plastic and PVC.
Originally, the word domino denoted a long hooded cloak worn with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. In English and French, the term also referred to a cape that a priest would wear over their surplice, which may explain why domino became associated with this particular type of playing piece. It is speculated that this garment was inspired by the contrasting blacks and whites of the domino pieces, which resembled a priest’s hood adorning his or her white gown.
Some of the most popular games that use dominoes involve matching pairs or groupings of the same kind. In a pair-matching game, for example, a player will choose a domino from the boneyard and place it next to another domino of the same value. They then play a domino from their own hand that matches the number of spots on the other domino in this pair. The first player to complete this sequence wins the game.
The popularity of domino as a gaming piece likely helped pave the way for its use in educational environments. The game provides an excellent analogy for learning, as it requires a great deal of attention and focus to keep all of the dominoes in line. The joy and satisfaction of watching one piece fall in the right spot can make this type of learning a fun activity for students.
In his book, The Domino Effect, entrepreneur and business consultant Jim Schwab uses the concept of the domino to illustrate how to achieve success by focusing on a single goal. He recommends starting with the most important task of a day and giving it your full attention until completion. Once completed, you can then proceed to the next goal. This strategy allows you to build momentum by completing the most important tasks that will have the most long-term impact.