Basic Intro to Rubik's Cube, 1st 2 layers
Overview
A very basic introduction to solving the Rubik's Cube.
This is part of a demonstration of various design features that can improve learning. This version has none of those features! It's just text, so it would presumably be very difficult to learn from it.
I hit some (secret) limit on the number of characters in the description, so I couldn't include the learning objectives. I'll put them in the first section instead.
Introduction
This tutorial will teach how to solve the first two layers of the Rubik's Cube.
Solving the last layer is more complicated. It will be covered in a future tutorial.
1 Learning outcomes
1.1 Engish
By the end of this module, learners should be able to:
- remember and recognize the different types of Rubik's Cube (RC) pieces,
- know the different terms describing the entire cube,
- know how to make the white cross to start solving,
- know how to insert the corners and edges to complete solving of the first two layers.
1.2 Bloom's
By the end of this module, learners should be able to:
- remember and recognize the different types of Rubik's Cube (RC) pieces,
retrieving (1.2) Knowledge of terminology (Aa)
identifying (1.1) Knowledge of specific details and elements (Ab)
(but close to classifying based on on conceptual knowledge)
- know the different terms describing the entire cube,
retrieving (1.2) Knowledge of terminology (Aa)
- (More about understanding how they're used in sentences)
- know how to make the white cross to start solving,
retrieving (1.2) and executing (3.1) knowledge of subject-specific skills and algorithms (Ca)
- know how to insert the corners and edges to complete solving of the first two layers.
retrieving (1.2) and executing (3.1) knowledge of subject-specific skills and algorithms (Ca)
classifying (2.3) based on knowledge of classifications and categories (Ba)
- because you have to recognize different situations
- This becomes more important for the later stages of solving.
Preliminary survey
(I haven't really implemented a pre-test, but let's pretend I did. Some possible questions:)
- On a Rubik's Cube, what's the difference between a "face" and a "layer".
- What kind of piece is shown here? (with picture of a piece from a cube.) Corner, edge, middle, reverse.
- True or false: When solving a cube, the first task is to get all the pieces on one side of the cube to be the same color.
- Which of the following is the right set of steps to insert a corner piece into the right position? …
Terminology
Here are three key terms: face, layer, and piece
- Face
- A face is one of the 6 sides of the cube. If a cube is on the table, the top face is the side of it that is facing the ceiling. Faces are also often named with the color of their middle piece, for example, the blue face, or the red face.
- Layer
- This includes the face and the other side of each of the pieces that form the top layer. For example, the top layer of a cube is the top third of the cube.
- Pieces
- The pieces of the cube are the individual parts that can be switched around to "solve" (make each of the six faces a single color) the cube. Pieces have 1, 2, or 3 visible colors. The different pieces are:
- Middles: the 6 pieces in the middle of each face.
- Edges: the 12 pieces directly adjacent to each middle.
- Corners: the 8 pieces on the corners of the cube.
Visualization
The first step in learning how to solve a Rubik's Cube is visualization. The key to visualization is to focus on the layers of the cube, not on the faces.
For example, to "solve" the blue layer, it's not enough to have all the pieces with blue sides on the same side. Their other sides have to be on the correct faces as well.
Making the white cross
In this section, you will learn out to start solving the cube by beginning with the white face and its edges.
Review of the Pieces
The centers on each face never move in relation to the others. For example, white will always be across from yellow, red will always be across from orange, and blue across from green.
Next, there are the edges which have two faces and can move on two axes.
And lastly, the corners, with three faces that can move on three axes.
Solving the white cross
The first step to actually solving a Rubik's Cube is called the White Cross. In the White Cross, the edges with one white face are next to the white center but also, the non-white face of the edge is adjacent to the middle of its color.
Most people can figure out how to solve the white cross on their own. If it is necessary to move one of the edges that is already in place to get another one, then do so, but move it back in place after twisting the second edge out of the way. If a white edge is on the "yellow face", it can be put in place by aligning its other side with the corresponding middle, and then twisting that side twice.
The white corners
Next up are the white corners. First, rotate the cube so that the white cross is on the bottom. In order to insert a corner into where it is supposed to be, take it and put it above where it should go in and then move the side so that the white face will be pointing down in its slot. Then move the other edge away, move the first side back, and the second side back. Then it should be in.
Another case is if the white face of the corner is facing up. Then, no matter which way you turn it in, the white face won't be facing down. In this case, just twist one of the sides, move it away from that side, move the side back down, and then the corner will have the white face facing either right or left, but not up. Then just insert it as described above. Move it so that the white face is facing down, move the other edge away, move the first edge back, and move the edge back.
You can repeat this process for all of the corners.