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E CITY Program Highlights - Spring 2007 |
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It’s Game
Time at East High School
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Just one of the
many hands-on, interactive aspects of the E CITY program is “The
Trading Game.” Nicole Lawrence (E CITY Director of Programs) made a
special visit to our class at East High School to lead the
activity.
How is it
played? This is it in a nutshell
- Every Student receives a paper bag, with three simple items
in it. Gadgets and gizmos…dollar store treasures…like a
mini-stapler, or stuffed toy, or a pack of gum, or a shower cap.
And the students are told:
“Peek inside, don’t show anyone, and
then rate your current level of satisfaction with your goodies, on a
scale of 1 to 5.” (1=no value to me; 5=very valuable to me
- Next, students display
their items for all to see. They walk around the room to view their
friends’ treasures. With this new perspective on what’s out there,
and who has what, they rate their own collection of goodies a second
time. “How satisfied are you, now that you know what everyone else
got?”
- Students are then
given the opportunity to trade one or more of their items with other
students on their half of the classroom. When trading is concluded,
every student again rates their level of satisfaction with their
items. “How satisfied are you, now that you’ve had the chance to
trade and negotiate for different items?”
- Finally, students are
allowed to trade with anyone in the classroom. At the end of the
trading period, they rate their items one more time.
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Nicole encouraging traders |
Student checking out what other traders have to offer |
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What do we
learn?
Our
satisfaction increases, as our control over what we have increases,
and as we gain perspective on our options.
Negotiating is tough! A technique that works with one person, may
fail with another.
Trading is an important aspect of business. And, for trade to be
successful, we need to care about the needs, values, attitudes and
lifestyle of the people we hope to trade with.
The game gets
students out of their seats, opens their minds, makes them laugh…and
it’s a great introduction to our lessons about negotiation and
marketing!
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One happy trader |
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