Aktipis, A. (2018, September 12). Cooperation theory for the classroom. http://Www.Athenaaktipis.Org/. http://www.athenaaktipis.org/blog/cooperation-theory-for-the-classroom
The blog is describing an interactive game to show students the prisoner’s dilemma. Inspired by what allows people to cheat, and how cooperation still developed if cheaters could still gain, the lesson is broken down into 3 different games where students are simulating the prisoner’s dilemma.
- The first game has students play the game silently, walking around the classroom and whenever they encounter another student, they can either chose to cooperate or defect. If they cooperate, but their opponent defects, they lose a point, and opponent gains many points. If they both cooperate, they both gain some points, and if they both defect, the get nothing.
- In the second game, the students do the same as the first game, but instead can communicate with each other, allowing for them to discuss actions before choosing them.
- The final game allows the students to decide if and when the end interactions. This allows for more strategies to develop, such as a tit-for-tat strategy where you choose the same strategy that your opponent did the previous round (punishing cheaters), or the strategy to walk away, ending the interaction.
Like McLaughlin, this is also a very good activity to bring into the class room, and can show students the impact of their actions on others. A lot of the sources I have shown simply explain why one choice is better rather than letting learners figure out where that decision came from.
This course does a very good job breaking down all of the elements in game theory. It was recommended by McLaughlin (source 16). When I have more time to dive into it, I will be continuing with this course, rather than just taking the first couple of classes.
Spencer Hight 