Teacher brings economics to life

Making commerce fun: South Auckland teacher Mark Snoad with his game Gumption.

Economics is not known for being one of the most exciting subjects at school, but a South Auckland teacher has changed just that.

With the invention of his board game Gumption, head of business studies at Ormiston Senior College, Mark Snoad, has found a way to engage students and make them participate in real-world economics within the classroom.

The game – based on natural, human and capital resources of eight iconic kiwi organisations – is quietly transforming economics teaching around the country.

“After years of trying to hold students attention unsuccessfully, I decided I needed to try something totally different,” Snoad says.

“Board games were potentially great, but too long to fit into normal class times. So I set about developing my own. Familiarity with the companies involved was important so I used well known New Zealand ones.”

It took Snoad three years to develop the game and he invested a “reasonable amount” of savings in the project.

“[The game] celebrates Kiwi innovation and enterprise, so I wanted iconic Kiwi businesses involved,” he says.

Big companies like The Warehouse, Mainfreight, Kiwibank, Air New Zealand, Massey University, Icebreaker, Sanitarium, Fisher & Paykel and Charlie’s – all of which are featured on the board game – have come on board to help fund the game’s commercial development.

Since June last year, more than 100 secondary schools around the country have purchased a total of 825 copies of Gumption to use in their class time.

The game takes about 40 minutes and can be played by two to six players. The first person to own two companies on the board wins.

Snoad hopes the Government may identify Gumption as having merit to help create an enterprising culture within our country.

“Engaging students in economics can be a tough job at times, but the pay-off for New Zealand could be huge. If kids get a taste for business at school, who knows what they could end up achieving,” he says.