Economics versus the environment: Promoting systems thinking, sustainability, and collaboration in a “commons” game
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52041/iase25.104Abstract
We want students to grow up to be good citizens. Part of that is to care for the environment and collaborate with one another in allocating shared resources. At the same time, society often identifies success with short-term financial gain—and that often entails setting aside the common good. How can we help students navigate the balance between the ubiquitous drive for money and the need to save the planet? One strategy is to use simulation games in which students experience the phenomena we’re concerned about rather than simply endure explanations in class. In the games we present, students use data to see how to make a profit and preserve the environment simultaneously. These games were developed as a small part of the EduS4EL project, described in Martignon and Martinez (2026), in this volume. This paper focuses on the games themselves and on design and pedagogical considerations.References
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