Analytics, Pedagogy and the Pass the Pigs Game

The Pass the Pigs^® game provides an opportunity to combine multiple analytical skills sets and problem-solving capabilities in an enjoyable and challenging application. In this paper, I describe how I structure a classroom exercise to help students work through developing, analyzing, and testing strategies for the game. The game utilizes multiple analytics and decision making tools, such as problem framing, data collection and preparation, probability, optimization, heuristics, expert systems, and simulation.