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The GamesWorth Method

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Daily practice in focused thinking and problem-solving

What is a "GamesWorth"?

A GamesWorth (GW) is Professor Winfree's term for a focused, uninterrupted session of serious thinking - roughly equivalent to the mental effort required to play one game of serious chess. The name comes from Platt's "The Art of Creative Thinking," which emphasizes the importance of sustained, concentrated mental effort.

The GamesWorth Concept

"Use these homework puzzles to nucleate a habit of doing a daily 'Game's-Worth' of focused thought... This might be the most important (potentially enduring) effect of the course."

The Daily Practice

Time Commitment

  • Minimum: One hour of uninterrupted thinking daily
  • Frequency: 5-7 times per week (ideally daily)
  • Consistency: Same time and place when possible
  • Quality over Quantity: Better to do 45 minutes of focused work than 2 hours with interruptions

The Sacred Hour

Professor Winfree emphasized that interruptions destroy the value of thinking sessions:

"An hour's work punctuated with three 5-minute interruptions has lost you not 15 minutes... it has instead prevented you getting warmed up to 60-minute heat, replacing that experience by 3 times getting up to 15-minute heat."

The GamesWorth Notebook

Physical Requirements

  • Bound notebook (not loose-leaf) - wire spiral binding acceptable
  • Right-hand pages only for primary work
  • Left-hand pages reserved for specific purposes
  • Numbered pages for easy cross-referencing
  • Professional quality - legible like an industrial research notebook

Documentation Requirements

At the start of each session:

  • Date and time you begin
  • Location where you're working
  • Page numbers used in this session
  • Problem or topic you're addressing

During the session:

  • All your work - including false starts and dead ends
  • Your reasoning process - not just final answers
  • Alternative approaches you try
  • Insights and breakthroughs as they occur
  • Questions that arise during your thinking

At the end of each session:

  • Time you finish and total duration
  • Summary of what you accomplished
  • Key insights or progress made
  • Questions for next session
  • Brief reflection on your thinking process

Using the Left-Hand Pages

Two Primary Functions

1. In-Class Notes

  • Record important points from class discussions
  • Note insights from classmates' presentations
  • Document group problem-solving approaches

2. Morning-After Reconsiderations

This is the most valuable use of left-hand pages:

  • Return weeks later to problems you worked on
  • Analyze your thinking with fresh perspective
  • Identify where you got stuck and why
  • See alternative approaches you missed
  • Compare your method with classmates' approaches
  • Recognize patterns in your problem-solving style

Creating the Optimal Environment

Physical Environment

  • Quiet space free from interruptions
  • Large work surface for spreading out materials
  • Good lighting and comfortable seating
  • No distractions - TV, music, or social media
  • All materials within reach before starting

Mental Environment

  • Clear your mind of other concerns before beginning
  • Set specific goals for the session
  • Accept that confusion and frustration are normal
  • Focus on process rather than immediate results
  • Maintain curiosity and playfulness

What to Work On

Problem-Solving Practice

  • Assigned puzzles from class
  • Personal challenges you encounter
  • Extensions of class problems
  • Creative variations on familiar problems

Reflection and Analysis

  • Review previous work for new insights
  • Analyze your thinking patterns and habits
  • Connect different problems and approaches
  • Plan strategies for upcoming challenges

Reading Integration

  • Process key insights from course readings
  • Create personal problem-solving checklists
  • Connect reading concepts to problem-solving practice
  • Develop your own thinking frameworks

The Collaborative Dimension

Daily Exchanges

  • Share notebooks with classmates regularly
  • Learn from others' approaches and insights
  • Offer constructive feedback on peers' work
  • Compare different thinking styles and methods

What Makes a Good Exchange

  • Clear documentation that others can follow
  • Honest recording of struggles and breakthroughs
  • Thoughtful analysis rather than just final answers
  • Generous sharing of insights and methods

Common Challenges and Solutions

"I Don't Have Time"

  • Start with shorter, more focused sessions
  • Protect the time as rigorously as you would a medical appointment
  • Remember that quality matters more than quantity
  • Consider the long-term benefits to your thinking skills

"I Don't Know What to Think About"

  • Return to previous problems with fresh eyes
  • Extend class problems in new directions
  • Look for patterns across different problems
  • Practice explaining solutions to imaginary students

"I Get Stuck Too Easily"

  • Record your stuck points rather than abandoning them
  • Try approaching from completely different angles
  • Take breaks within the session to reset your thinking
  • Remember that getting stuck is part of the learning process

"My Work Isn't Good Enough"

  • Focus on effort and process rather than correct answers
  • Document your reasoning process thoroughly
  • Learn from mistakes rather than hiding them
  • Remember that everyone struggles with difficult problems

The Long-Term Benefits

Immediate Course Benefits

  • Better problem-solving performance in class
  • Deeper understanding of course concepts
  • More effective collaboration with classmates
  • Greater confidence in tackling difficult problems

Lifelong Benefits

  • Enhanced creativity and innovation ability
  • Better analytical thinking skills
  • Increased tolerance for ambiguity and confusion
  • More systematic approach to complex challenges
  • Greater persistence in the face of difficulty

Assessment and Evaluation

Your GamesWorth notebook will be evaluated on:

  • Consistency of daily practice
  • Quality of documentation and reflection
  • Evidence of learning and growth over time
  • Thoughtfulness of morning-after reconsiderations
  • Collaboration quality in exchanges with peers

Remember: The goal is not to produce perfect solutions, but to develop the habits and skills of sustained, creative thinking that will benefit you throughout your life.

"The purpose of making this a formal 'course' is to provide you a legitimate (regularly scheduled, graded) escape from the usual pressures, during which to consciously cultivate skills and personal style in problem solving."