Artifact

About
This semester in Economic Theory 12, one of the most meaningful experiences for me was creating a board game that models real-world economic concepts. Through this project, I was able to better understand how different theories interact, and I also grew in terms of collaboration, creativity, and applying classroom knowledge in a practical way. Here’s how the project helped me grow in three different core areas of learning:
Core Competency Reflection
I gather and synthesize information to develop logical conclusions, such as when…
…my group and I had to research and decide which economic theories would be most interesting and effective to include in our game mechanics. We didn’t want to just throw in random terms; we wanted the game to teach something while being fun. We took what we learned about capitalism, opportunity cost, and supply and demand and brainstormed how to turn those concepts into challenges, rewards, and strategies in the game. It helped me make sense of the theories we studied, and it also made me realize how often these systems show up in real life.
I can examine and evaluate to improve my own work; evidence of that is…
…when we playtested the board game and realized some parts didn’t work the way we thought. For example, we had an event card system that sounded good on paper but slowed the game down way too much. We took the time to revise it, test it again, and then simplify it without removing the economic concept behind it. It showed me that sometimes your first idea isn’t your best, and that revising things based on how they actually work—not just how you want them to work—is important.
An example of where I built upon someone else’s ideas is…
…when one of my group members suggested using a “tax” system in the game to represent government involvement. I added to their idea by suggesting that we also include events where taxes could go up or down depending on certain in-game choices, kind of like a policy change. This made the gameplay more interactive and helped show how government intervention can affect market behaviour. Working off each other’s ideas made the whole project stronger.
Overall, this project taught me a lot—not just about economics, but also about thinking critically, working through trial and error, and how to turn school content into something creative and useful. It was a different kind of assignment, and I’m glad I got to experience learning in this way.


