What was the reasoning for my choices in the 3rd World Farmer simulation and the implications of that reasoning.

The choices I made while playing the 3rd World Farmer simulation were influenced by the yearly results total. I could see that I was losing money and resources each year. I only had enough income to buy seed to plant at first. Then each year I would try to get a building or well but some disaster would ruin either crops or kill my livestock. One time I got ahead by over 400 dollars but I immediately lost it to a military takeover. Since I became depressed that whatever I did would not help me be successful in the game I can see that a child would not want to play this game but a few times either. Just like me they would become disenchanted with the game. Also after a few plays everyone would predict the outcome no matter how you play the game. I see this as a short project unless you bring in other problem based hands on activities to illustrate what is going on in the game.

 

To add to this post after working with the simulation more I believe this program would start to make much more meaning by way of collaboration between students in small groups. I think after playing the simulation a couple of times and then comparing their results with other students the events in the program would become more personal. Through the act of comparing their answers to others I believe the students would be more successful in doing the simulation and more successful in learning the moral lessons offered by the makers of the simulation.