I've noticed a common pattern among students: they tend to value only positive feedback and some (not all) become discouraged by constructive criticism. Yet, just like in the popular game Wordle, every type of feedback—whether it confirms what we're doing right (green), points us in a promising direction (amber), or eliminates unproductive paths (grey)—has tremendous value in the learning process.
In a delightful coincidence while preparing for this blog post, today's Wordle answer turned out to be "QUOTA"—an economic term referring to a limit imposed on imported goods, a concept we study in Unit 4 of the IB Economics course when examining types of trade protection. This serendipitous connection between Wordle and economics perfectly illustrates how learning principles cross domains, whether we're solving word puzzles or analysing international trade policies!
The Feedback Colour Spectrum
In Wordle, players get three types of feedback:
Green tiles: The letter is correct and in the right position
Amber tiles: The letter is in the word but in the wrong position
Grey tiles: The letter is not in the word at all
Similarly, in economics essays and assessments, students receive different types of feedback:
"Green" feedback: Concepts that are correctly understood and applied
"Amber" feedback: Ideas that show promise but need refinement or repositioning
"Grey" feedback: Approaches or understandings that need to be discarded
Why We Overvalue Green
It's natural to crave the dopamine hit of seeing those green tiles in Wordle or positive comments on an essay. Green feedback validates our existing knowledge and approach. It feels good, and it should—it represents mastery of a concept or skill.
This preference for positive reinforcement aligns perfectly with what we learn in Unit 2.4 of the IB Economics course (Critique of the maximizing behaviour of consumers and producers). In behavioural economics, we discover that humans don't always behave rationally; we display cognitive biases that affect our decision-making. Our tendency to focus on positive feedback whilst discounting constructive criticism is a form of confirmation bias—we seek information that confirms our existing beliefs and overlook information that challenges them.
Students often develop a "green-only mindset," where they:
Focus exclusively on what they got right
Skip over constructive criticism
Feel disappointed when an assessment includes suggestions for improvement
Miss valuable learning opportunities
The Hidden Value of Grey
Interestingly, in Wordle, the grey tiles are often more strategically valuable than the green ones. A grey tile eliminates a letter from consideration for all remaining positions, significantly narrowing your possible answers.
Similarly, in economics learning, discovering what doesn't work can be incredibly valuable:
Eliminating misconceptions about economic concepts (like confusing price elasticity with income elasticity)
Identifying ineffective approaches to diagram construction
Recognising patterns of thinking that don't align with economic methodology
Understanding which real-world examples don't effectively illustrate theories
The Power of Strategic Experimentation
Experienced Wordle players know a counterintuitive secret: sometimes it's better to deliberately ignore your green letters in the next guess. This strategic experimentation—trying an entirely new set of letters—can yield more information than building on what you already know is correct.
Take this scenario: your first guess yields two green letters, but you're uncertain about the remaining three. Instead of preserving those green letters in your next guess, you might strategically use five completely different letters. Why? This experimental approach accelerates learning by potentially eliminating (or confirming) multiple possibilities at once.
This applies brilliantly to economics learning:
Sometimes students need to step away from comfortable theories they understand well (green areas)
Experimenting with completely new approaches can reveal unexpected insights
Testing alternative frameworks may uncover more efficient analytical methods
Deliberately exploring unfamiliar territory leads to more comprehensive understanding
When preparing for IB Economics assessments, students who experiment with different frameworks for analysis—even when they already have a workable approach—often develop more nuanced and sophisticated economic thinking. Just as in Wordle, sometimes temporarily sacrificing what you know works leads to greater breakthroughs.
Embracing the Amber Zone
Amber feedback represents the growth zone—where real learning happens. It indicates:
You're on the right track but need refinement
You understand part of a concept but not its full application
Your analytical approach has merit but needs restructuring
Your ideas need to be repositioned within your argument
In the IB Economics internal assessment commentaries, amber feedback might highlight when you've identified a relevant theory but haven't fully linked it to the article or key concept.
Developing a Balanced Feedback Mindset
Just as skilled Wordle players value all three colours of feedback, successful economics students learn to:
Celebrate the green: Acknowledge what you've mastered and build confidence from it
Learn from the grey: Actively eliminate misconceptions and faulty approaches
Grow with the amber: Focus energy on refining these areas, where your understanding is emerging
Practical Applications in Economics Learning
When receiving feedback on your next economics assessment, try this approach:
First, acknowledge what you got right (green areas)
Then, identify concepts or approaches that need to be eliminated (grey areas)
Finally, focus most of your energy on areas showing promise but needing refinement (amber areas)
This balanced approach to feedback will accelerate your growth in understanding complex economic concepts and improve your ability to analyse and evaluate economic issues—essential skills for success in IB Economics.
Remember: in both Wordle and economics, the players who value all types of feedback are the ones who consistently improve their performance over time.
