One of our larger projects earlier this school year was a 'Shell Game' Simulation. We introduced it like this:
- Three red solo cups were placed upside down on a table
- Before students arrived, we placed a 'prize' under one cup and 'bogus' prizes (acorns from the parking lot!) were placed under the other 2 cups
- A novice was asked to pick a cup: 1, 2 or 3
- That selection was kept hidden while another cup, one that hid a 'bogus' prize, WAS revealed
- The novice had a choice: stay with their original cup or switch to the other
- We revealed their choice and they either got a prize or an acorn
We did this several times with several novices and they had to determine if the choice strategy mattered. There was some debate over the issue. Based on the results of this little experiment, students were asked to create a simulation of the process in code.
Below are some of the results, shown in various stages of evolution.
Meanwhile, we developed our own simulation that was revealed when novices turned in their projects.
If you'd like to learn more about 'Monte Hall' and the game of choice he made famous, watch an episode of 'Let's Make a Deal'.