Can Puzzle Obsession Increase Your Learning?

​I have just finished playing another hand of Solitaire, my fifth in a row. Before that it was several games of Red Herring and Cut the Rope. While I enjoy the win, it is more about the process for me - the puzzling, persevering, trying to figure it out. So, rather than quitting while I'm ahead, I continue on for another round.
 
Neuroscientists (Panksepp, et. al)  explain this experience as the SEEKING System. As our brains engage in productive struggle, dopamine is released. Dopamine is one of the neurotransmitters that make us feel pleasure and a desire to persevere. Scientists used to believe that the largest release of dopamine occurred upon successful task completion. They now know that opioids are released upon completion instead. Opioids differ from dopamine in that they result in a boost, or high, that drops off quickly. Dopamine, a more long-lasting high, is released during the SEEKING, or puzzling, process. 
 
How can we enhance this process during professional learning classes?  How can we engage participants in puzzling? Of course, well designed problem solving activities will be highly effective at this, as long as the outcome feels achievable. But puzzling can be introduced throughout instruction in simple, quick ways, too. I have tried three different ways to add some puzzling to the learning process. Each of these ideas could be developed for any content or audience, with very little prep. Each time, participants were attentive and highly motivated  to complete the puzzles. 
 
1. Crossword Puzzles – I used  a free online puzzle maker to create a simple crossword puzzle with the key vocabulary words.

2. Fill in the Blank – I turned the learning target into a fill in the blank puzzle.
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3. Wheel of Fortune – A variation on the t.v. show Wheel of Fortune -  I provided some of the letters and then had teams compete to fill in the rest.

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Answer: Novelty causes increased alertness.