10. Change and Innovation

Diffusion Game

Rob and I met on a PD day here in Vancouver to strategize the diffusion game.  The first time we played, we ended up losing because we were too aggressive.  We tried again and the second time we played we took a conservative approach and were able to convince 14 Adopters.  Later I tried the game again, thinking I knew the rules, adopters, thinking it would be easier, but I only convinced 11 adopters.  I thought it was interesting simulation.  It makes you think about the stakeholder when looking at changing an existing system. It’s not an easy task!  I found this game made me think about the process and the strategy on approaching stakeholders.  Just because the innovation may be a great idea doesn’t mean it will be adopted.  The success has more to do with the presentation and education with the people, than the innovation itself.

I don’t use games in my courses.  I am not opposed to them but I haven’t come across any that I feel are worth adding to my curriculum.  I don’t really consider the Diffusion game a “game”, more of a simulation.  I associate games with having fun.  The Diffusion game was interesting, but I wouldn’t consider it fun.

I haven’t come across many games that produce good learning for the benefit of time invested in learning and playing them.  There are exceptions like chess for example, but who has time to learn and play chess type games in class?