Building a Card Game to Learn About Electricity's Simultaneous Supply and Demand

A solo one-hour research session where the goal is to design a card game that teaches the concept of simultaneous supply and demand in electricity—understanding that power must be generated in the exact amount needed at the exact time it is needed. The game is built with playing cards and then simulated through Python programming to test different strategies.

■ Game Design and Rules
- Card-based game using two suits to represent electricity demand and supply
- Solitaire rules: draw cards, play against a field card, and score points
- Basic strategy for efficient scoring versus random play

■ Simulation and Strategy Testing
- Large-scale Python simulations comparing strategy outcomes
- Exploring whether demand prediction (foreseeing future cards) improves scores
- Adjusting rules and observing how strategy changes affect results

■ Key Takeaways
- How preparedness—having enough cards in hand—affects the ability to meet demand
- The challenge of designing game rules that effectively convey a concept
- How the session connects to real-world electricity supply planning

Programmers, educators, and anyone interested in gamification or energy literacy will find this session useful for understanding how game mechanics can be used to explain real-world concepts. Watching will give you insight into the iterative process of game design, simulation-based strategy testing, and how a one-hour time limit shapes the creative process.