Gamifying Game Theory: Helping Students Reflect on the Lecture Before the Lecture |

TL;DR

Game theory professor shares insights on how he incorporates games in his economics class to engage students and promote active learning.

Transcript

um thanks everybody for coming i know for some of you and us it's late on a friday evening but we made it so i wanted to talk about uh kind of a an aha moment that i had about 15 years ago that honestly in retrospect seems almost trivial and yet i don't see a lot of people doing it so first just a little bit of background i teach economics and i'm ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Interactive elements, like games, can significantly enhance student engagement in theory-based subjects.
• 👾 Simplifying games can help students focus on the core concepts and prevent confusion.
• 😑 Pre-class game participation encourages reflection and discussion, leading to deeper learning.
• 🤔 Using games fosters critical thinking, decision-making, and strategic interaction skills.
• 👾 Games can make learning enjoyable and overcome the challenge of balancing theory and engagement in class.
• 🧑‍🎓 Incorporating interactive elements throughout the class can keep students motivated and interested.
• 👾 Students benefit from experiencing the consequences of their decisions firsthand in a game-based learning environment.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the professor initially engage students in a theory-based economics class?

The professor used "shiny balls," such as interactive videos, jokes, or stories, to break the monotony of lectures and keep students engaged.

Q: What issues did the professor face with the traditional lecture format?

The professor found that students often had to suspend their disbelief during lectures and that games at the end didn't give students enough time for reflection. He also struggled with unpredictability and missed teaching opportunities during classroom simulations.

Q: How did the professor modify his teaching approach?

The professor started each class with a game before introducing the theory, allowing students to make decisions and experience the concepts firsthand. He simplified the games to help students focus on the main learning objectives. He also had students play the same games before coming to class to encourage reflection and discussion.

Q: What were the advantages of using games in the classroom?

Games allowed students to apply the theory to real-life situations and fostered reflection and discussion. They improved student engagement and enthusiasm, making learning more enjoyable.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The professor teaches game theory in an economics class, which focuses on strategic interaction.

• He initially struggled with balancing the theoretical aspects of the subject with engaging activities.

• To address this challenge, he used "shiny balls" or interactive elements to keep students interested during lectures.

• He later incorporated games into his teaching, allowing students to experience decision-making and strategic thinking firsthand.