Both types of cognition are of equal value in the learning process. Norman describes three kinds of learning, accretion, the accumulation of facts, tuning, the hours of practice between a novice learner and an expert, and restructing, the acquiring of new conceptual skills. Accretion and tuning are mainly experiential in mode. Restructuring is a reflective mode. Motivated activity results in Optimal flows.
Optimal flows tend to come in recreational activities rather than educational situations.
The activities for recreation and education are essentially identical. A similar environment of total involvement could be produced in education with the use of multimedia instruction. To succeed, multimedia materials need improvement. Experiential tools and reflective tools must not be inappropriately used in learning situations. Today's greatest danger is relying on experiential tools and not developing reflective tools.