Reference no: EM132339008

Reflection 3: Spent Simulation

SUMMARY

This reflection directs you to think about choices faced by some of the most financially vulnerable in our society. You will complete a poverty simulation that offers users the opportunity to try to make their money last over the course of a month while making life decisions commonly encountered by lower-income individuals. Marketed by the developer as a "game about surviving poverty," the simulation requires users to consider choices related to employment, housing, healthcare, and other life events. As you go through the simulation, please keep in mind that this is not a "game" for many people - it is a reality!

DIRECTIONS

The Set-Up

• Go to www.playspent.org. • You should turn the sound on your computer or device while doing this activity. • Click on "Continue to Spent" on the right side. • Then, when you are ready, "Accept the Challenge." • Next, it will prompt you to "Find A Job."

Activity

• Your goal is to try and make it through the month using limited resources. • After you choose a job, you will click through a series of events/decisions. • The left sidebar shows how many "Job Strikes" you have. Collect three and you will be fired. • The "Need Cash" options will help with a small infusion of money, if needed. • The month's progression is on the right sidebar. The "$" symbol indicates a payday. • The system will present a new combination of scenarios each time you "play the game." • For this assignment, you are to play the game five (5) times. Each round is finished at the end the month or when you run out of money, whichever comes first. • Take notes on the following information for each play, stopping to reflect at the end of each round:

1. Your chosen job o Weekly pay o Job strikes o Final bank balance OR furthest day reached o Did you opt in for health insurance? Did that factor into any subsequent decisions? Explain.

2. Would you consider your actions to be, overall, morally good or bad? Explain.

3. Would you consider your actions to be, overall, choices you would make if you had no economic limitations? Explain.

4. What were the two (2) hardest decisions you had to make during this round? What were your final decisions for both?

After playing the game five (5) times, go online and search for organizations in either your home region or in the City of Radford that help those living in poverty or experiencing hardships.

Take notes on the answers to the following questions/prompts about at least TWO organizations:

Name of the organization , What is their central mission? What services do they offer? Who does this group help (ex. specific ages, locations, genders, etc)?

Are there any types of individuals this organization would not help who otherwise qualify for help? o Is there a time limit on how long one can utilize the services? How is the organization funded? By whom/what? Is funding guaranteed?

How could you help support this group if you were interested in doing so?

• Now, talk this over with your friends and family. Take notes on: Have those in your social networks had to make decisions like those presented in the game? What kind of support would those in your social network be able to provide, if any? Are there limits to the support they are able to provide?

Write

Using the notes you already took, write a reflection based on the questions/prompts below. The headings you should use to organize your paper are written in all capital letters below.

3 headings

REACTION : What are your reactions to this activity/simulation? How did it make you feel? Explain.

LIFE OUTCOMES : Did you get fired, sick, did your car break down, or did you experience some other challenging event? Describe the decisions you had to make. Did you make it until the end of the month with any money left over? Describe the overall experience. Describe how your play-style changed during the later attempts. Specifically, what did you do to "succeed" in life? What are your reactions to your "strategy"? Remember: You were supposed to have played the game five times.

• SOCIAL SUPPORT : Describe at least TWO organizations that are helping people in your home region. What are your reactions to the support available? Explain. Describe what you discussed with your family/friends. How would you make these decisions if they came up in real life? What kind of support network do you have? Explain. Summarize your final thoughts about the simulation.

FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

Your paper should be written in narrative format (full sentences, paragraph format), structured using the 3 headings above.

It should be 4-5 double-spaced pages, with 12-point Times New Roman font, 1inch margins, and paragraph format. Include a reference page that includes a link to the website for the organizations you discuss and, though not required, any information/articles you cite. Proofread your work for grammatical errors and typos. Each paper should be your own original work.