Our approach
From abstract ideas to lasting understanding
We translate difficult concepts into visual metaphors and interactive experiences — so learners can see, explore, and reason through ideas that once felt intangible.
In short
WissenFlow is based on grounded cognition: people understand and apply complex, abstract ideas more naturally when those ideas are connected to something concrete and familiar — then explored through interactive, game-based learning.
Why abstract ideas feel hard
Most difficult ideas aren't difficult because they're inherently complicated; they're difficult because they're abstract — such as Time Value of Money in Finance, Climate Resilience in Climate Science, and Probability in Mathematics. They have no shape, no visual, nothing to hold on to.
Grounded cognition
Our approach is based on scientific findings in cognitive science: people understand and apply complex, abstract ideas more naturally and with lasting impact when those ideas are connected to something concrete and familiar. This is sometimes called grounded cognition — the idea that even our most abstract thinking is built on the same mental machinery we use to understand the physical world around us.
Visual metaphors
So instead of explaining a concept in words alone, we translate it into a visual metaphor: a concrete, familiar image or scenario that captures the underlying logic of the idea and makes it something you can visualize, follow, and reason through intuitively. A powerful metaphor does more than make an idea easier to see — it creates a mental model that people can explore, test, and build upon.
Interactive exploration
By preserving the underlying relationships within a concept, a well-designed visual metaphor allows learners to reason through the idea more deeply and effectively. We extend this through game-based, interactive learning, where learners don't just observe a model but actively engage with it: making choices, seeing consequences, adjusting their approach, and discovering how the system behaves. This combination of visual grounding and hands-on exploration transforms abstract knowledge into something intuitive, usable, and lasting.
How it works in practice
Three moves that turn abstraction into understanding.
Connect to the concrete
Map abstract structure onto familiar scenes — water, ice, ecosystems — so the logic becomes something you can picture.
Preserve the relationships
Metaphors keep the underlying cause-and-effect intact, so learners can reason through the idea, not just memorize labels.
Learn by doing
Interactive games let people choose, fail, adjust, and discover — turning observation into lasting mental models.
Common questions
- What is grounded cognition?
- Grounded cognition is the idea that even abstract thinking uses the same mental systems we rely on for the physical world. When a concept is linked to something concrete and familiar, people understand and apply it more naturally and with longer-lasting impact.
- Why use visual metaphors instead of explanations alone?
- Words alone leave abstract ideas without shape. A well-designed visual metaphor captures the underlying logic so learners can visualize, follow, and reason through the idea intuitively — then build on that mental model.
- How do games fit into the approach?
- Games extend the metaphor into active exploration. Learners make choices, see consequences, and adjust — discovering how the system behaves instead of only reading about it.
- Where can I see this approach in action?
- Explore Our Games for FinBild experiences built on these principles, or Our Products for FinBild and FinAI on the WissenFlow hub.
See the approach in play
Browse our games, or explore the products built on this foundation.
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