Driver’s Seat Students

Kelvin WongUniversity of Minnesota

MobLab

What in the world is that title supposed to mean?

What in the world is that title supposed to mean?What is the difference between the driver of a car, and the passenger?

What in the world is that title supposed to mean?What is the difference between the driver of a car, and the passenger?

How is this an analogy of what we do as instructors?

What in the world is that title supposed to mean?What is the difference between the driver of a car, and the passenger?

How is this an analogy of what we do as instructors?

How can we put students in the driver’s seat? …and have them like it?

Why is it important for students to want to be the driver? • They learn better

Why is it important for students to want to be the driver? • They learn better

• They come to appreciate the details

Why is it important for students to want to be the driver? • They learn better

• They come to appreciate the details

• They will want to learn how and why a concept works

An example: equilibrium in competitive market• How do we get students to understand this?

An example: equilibrium in competitive market• How do we get students to understand this?

• How often do they get it right away?

• And if they do, would any of them think it’s as interesting as we think it is?

Using games

• It’s hardwired into our brains that games are fun

Using games

• It’s hardwired into our brains that games are fun

• But not games like “Do this quiz perfectly and level up!” or “This exam is like a quest, and each question you get right is the same as slaying a monster”

Using games

• It’s hardwired into our brains that games are fun

• But not games like “Do this quiz perfectly and level up!” or “This exam is like a quest, and each question you get right is the same as slaying a monster”

• Actual games where students have an objective, and getting to that objective is fun

Using competition

• Competition adds a whole new dimension to any games

• There is a reason to not do silly things and lose intentionally

Using technology

• Students today are growing up with technology

• Technology provides constant feedback

• Technology makes our jobs a lot easier

Putting it all together

• Playing competitive games using technology

• Conditional on not changing by much what you are already doing

One solution: MobLab

• Play games to motivate a topic, or to apply knowledge

• Results generated instantly for discussion with class

• Accommodate classes of any size

Let’s try this together

• Go to game.moblab.com• Or download MobLab app from Andriod or Apple

App store

• Log in with userX@moblab.com– X is your favorite number from 0 to 50

• Password: moblab123

Example: Equilibrium

• Why should we expect a market to be in equilibrium?

• How do changes in supply and demand affect this equilibrium?

20

You are either a buyer or seller of oranges

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Example: Tragedy of the Commons

• What are the incentives of individuals when a resource is one that is common?

Example: Defecting is optimal in prisoner’s dilemma• In a round, you can either push $400 or pull $300

• Push means you give the other person $400, pull means you get $300 for yourself

The other way we could have done it…

Defect

Cooperate

Defect

F gets $400You

Cooperate

R gets $400 R gets $700

R gets $300R gets $0

F gets $700 F gets $300

F gets $0

Me

Concluding thoughts

• Games are fun

• Academic games can be effective in helping students learn

• Getting hands-on experience with novel concepts

• When students enjoy and can follow, more likely they will take charge of their own learning – driver’s seat students