40405 - Modifying Myths About Meritocracy: The Equity of Life Simulation Board Game Workshop

Description

The tabletop simulation game, ‘Equity of Life’, is currently used at King’s Business School as an experiential way of teaching students about social inequality, and how this impacts work. The game debunks the idea of meritocracy, i.e. that talent and effort alone lead to success in terms of resource and reward achievement. Instead, it allows students to experience the impact of social and cultural capital on life outcomes. This workshop will allow participants to play the game, reflect on its contribution for teaching ‘difficult to teach subjects’ and discuss future implications for experiential teaching pedagogy.

The first hour will involve participants playing the game. Equity of Life is a tabletop simulation board game designed to be played in a small group setting of up to 30 participants. The workshop will therefore divide participants into 6 small groups, each with their own scenario. The group’s task is to make decisions about housing, education, and extracurricular activities, with the goal of their eldest child achieving an entry-level consultant job at a prestigious (fictional) consultancy firm called EPKD. Each group is provided with the resources to play the game, including a board, playing counters, resource cards and money. However, the game pathway is difficult because of an unequal distribution of starting resources, including income, available time, education and experience. Participants are then mentored through the game by session facilitator. Following the conclusion of the game, and the winner of ‘Equity of life’ participants discuss ‘fairness’ and inequality. Ultimately, the game simulates ‘unfairness’ and participants are asked to reflect upon this. The workshop therefore presents a new innovative and ‘disruptive’ teaching approach that challenges dominant narratives and encourages participants to take alternative perspectives. The remaining time will ask participants to reflect upon the value of new experiential ‘disruptive’ pedagogies for difficult to teach subjects.

Sub Unit

• Workshops / Teaching Workshop

Presenter

• Ian Hill, King's College London

Session Organizer

• Ian Hill, King's College London