What This Document Is
This document is a student activity titled “The Bean Game,” designed for use in an Ohio University Molecular Biology (MCB 720) course. It’s a simulation, adapted from the “20 Bean Salary” activity, intended to explore personal values and their impact on budgeting and financial decision-making. Students are tasked with allocating a limited “bean” budget across various life expenses.
Why This Document Matters
This activity is for students enrolled in MCB 720. It’s used as a discussion prompt to encourage self-reflection on financial priorities and the trade-offs inherent in resource allocation. The game aims to connect abstract concepts of value to concrete budgeting choices. It’s likely used early in a unit on resource management or decision-making, potentially as a bridge to more complex biological systems where resource allocation is critical.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This activity is a simplified simulation. It doesn’t cover complex financial instruments, long-term investment strategies, or nuanced economic factors. It’s a starting point for discussion, not a comprehensive financial planning tool.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes: a description of the Bean Game simulation; a list of expense categories (housing, food, transportation, recreation, etc.) with associated “bean” costs; discussion questions for individual reflection and group sharing; and a section for identifying key takeaways. This preview only shows the expense categories and a sample of the discussion questions. It does *not* include individual student responses or a detailed explanation of the simulation’s learning objectives beyond the stated goal of exploring personal values.