What is a pattern? You find applications of patterns and patterns language in the Peeragogy Handbook 
, they quote Christopher Alexander :
> Each pattern describes a problem which occurs over and over again in our environment, and then describes the core of the solution to that problem, in a way that you can use this solution a million times over, without ever doing it the same way twice.
This is the format they use to describe patterns:
> Title: Encapsulate the idea - possibly include a subtitle > Context: Describe the context in which it is meaningful. What are the key forces acting in this context? > Problem: Explain why there's some issue to address here. > Solution: Talk about an idea about how to address the issue. > Rationale: Why do we use this solution as opposed to some other solution? > Resolution: How are the key forces resolved when the solution is applied? > What's Next: Talk about specific next steps. How will the active forces continue to resolve in our project? > Patterns include the following optional elements: > [*Examples*: /Present example(s) that have been encountered, if this aids comprehension./] > [*References*: /Citations, if relevant./]