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Economics at the End of the World

Students learn the basics about economics and government in this simulation about survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
Mikael Hellstrom, Ph.D.
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(96)
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Class
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What's included

5 live meetings
10 in-class hours

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10
*THIS CLASS REQUIRES AT LEAST THREE (3) STUDENTS TO GO AHEAD. IF A SECTION DOES NOT HAVE AT LEAST THAT NUMBER OF STUDENTS REGISTERED 24 HOURS BEFORE LISTED DATE, IT WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE MINIMUM REQUIRED NUMBER ARE REGISTERED*

This class teaches basic economics and government. Topics included are:
* the effects of supply and demand
* differences between market, mixed and planned economics
* differences between democracy and dictatorship
* the meaning of scarcity
* how governments make decisions to distribute goods and services in society

These topics are covered through a simulation where the learners take the roles of the few humans who remain after the apocalypse, a world similar to what is seen in movies like Mad Max, Oblivion or the Matrix, and computer games like Fallout. These survivors have to build a new society, produce basic goods like food, and decide, as a community, what resources to collect and how to use them. All these questions are questions of economics and governance.

The first week, learners get familiar with the status quo situation and introduced to the basics of the simulation - their community, their available resources, actions they can take to develop that community and improve their situation. If they want food, supplies, things – they have to take the time to make it. Their objective is to maximize the community's Wealth, Happiness and Health. They will get a chance to do a first turn of finding resources and bartering with each other.

The second week they will have to start answering questions like: Will they decide on a free market economy or a planned economy, or a mix? What consequences will these have for the prosperity and productivity of the community? How will they manage disagreements? Who will get to make decisions for their community? Will that person be chosen in elections in the community or simply take power by force? Why would they choose one style of government over another?

The third week and beyond, they will continue to explore their surroundings for resources, barter and build projects that develop the community, and they will have to decide how to use the collected resources to improve their community. 

As the learners answer the questions as they arise through their play together, they will have to study and consider key concepts from economics and government studies, and confront the consequences of their choices and possibly correct mistake they make along the way.

Other Details

Parental Guidance
This is a class on economics, scarcity and politics. As such, it may involve politically sensitive topics, as politics is inherently touching on subjects that people get very animated by. One of the points of this class is to help learners deal with that in a civil manner. FoundryVTT does NOT require registration of an account for the learner.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined March, 2021
5.0
96reviews
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Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Doctoral Degree from University of Alberta
I taught this as a unit for three grade 9s while doing my practicum as part of a B.Ed. After Degree. The students in those grade 9s loved it, and learned economics and government much faster than usually. I presented on the experiences at this conference for teachers and instructors using game-based learning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apiE6Cfd44Q

Further, as a Ph.D. in political science, I have taught many courses in Political Science 101, as well as at higher university level as an adjunct professor at the Universities of Alberta and Calgary and now at St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada.

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Live Group Class
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$40

weekly or $200 for 5 classes
1x per week, 5 weeks
120 min

Completed by 13 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
3-5 learners per class

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