The Commons Game

The COMMONS GAME was used in combination with lectures and discussion sessions to teach 19 university students the complexities and frustrations of managing commons property natural resources. On completion of the course, data from students' opinions of instruction, observations made during a postlecture/postgame analysis session, and a content analysis of students' essays were used to describe the extent to which the game provided a valuable instructional experience. The results provide evidence that the COMMONS GAME is a valuable teaching tool when used in a natural resources management context if special instructional considerations, designed to reinforce resource management concepts and techniques, are adequately addressed.