![[Table of Contents]](/icons/up.gif){kind=icon}
| FISH BANKS, LTD. A group role-playing simulation, assisted by one microcomputer, designed to improve environmental understanding and apply communication, group problem solving, and higher order thinking skills. |
Audience Approved by PEP for grades 9-12 and college students.
Description FISH BANKS, LTD. creates profound insights into how depletion of natural resources can result from the interaction of ecological, economic, corporate, and psychological forces. It conveys factual knowledge about a major environmental issue and motivates students to be informed and effective citizens.
The FISH BANKS, LTD. simulation is a group process involving analytic reasoning, negotiation, and collective decision making. As an interdisciplinary model it provides linkages to environmental science, biology, economics, social studies, and mathematics. One teacher can run the program with 5-50 students. There are many teacher-selected extensions of this engaging exercise. A microcomputer is used by the teacher to analyze the effects of student decisions and produce yearly reports on corporate profitability and productivity of the fishery. Typically, role playing extends over six to ten cycles (years) and debriefing begins when teams realize the long-term consequences of short-term strategies. Many high school and college educators use FISH BANKS, LTD. to introduce systems thinking and systems dynamics modeling. FISH BANKS, LTD. helps students achieve National Goals for Education 3 and 5.
Evidence of Effectiveness High school and college students who participated in the FISH BANKS, LTD. simulation show significantly greater gains on a program-developed test of knowledge and academic skills than comparison groups. Teachers have positive attitudes toward the simulation and certify the high level of student involvement and excitement.
Requirements Adopting teachers or schools must purchase a kit consisting of a game administrator's manual; a materials manual, including masters for more than 50 overhead transparencies used in introducing and debriefing the exercise, and masters for all student handouts; a game board; wooden ships; fish money; and an IBM compatible or MAC program disk. A six-hour teacher training session is available. Access to a microcomputer and overhead projector are also necessary.
Costs Start-up costs include $100 for the simulation kit and $15 to produce the overhead transparencies and student handouts. Training costs of trainer stipend (usually $250 for a full-day training) and travel, lodging, and meal expenses are negotiated between the program staff, state facilitator, and the local adopter. There is no charge for workshop materials.
Services An awareness brochure can be requested at no cost. An awareness video is available through many state facilitators or it can be borrowed or purchased ($5) from the program. A sample role description is also sent upon request. Kits are available for preview. A table-top exhibit can be mailed for use at meetings or conferences. Program staff or certified trainers offer awareness, training, and follow-up support (costs to be negotiated). There are many possible formats for training: at an adopting site, inservice day, conference, etc.
Developmental Funding: Local.
PEP No. 91-12 (3/19/91)
-###-
[Hands-On Elementary Science]