OPTION 2 - Utilize Throughout Course
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
Sample Course Outline
Schedule of Simulation Games and Exercises
Weeks |
Activity |
Game
Assignments |
Simulation Exercises |
1 | Students register online & learn basics of game | View online tutorials; and
**Play Practice Game 1 |
* Introduction |
2 | Students refer to student manual as needed | Law of Demand
Shifts in Demand |
|
3 | Students refer to student manual as needed |
|
Market Equilibrium Price Elasticity |
4 | Students refer to student manual as needed |
|
Short-run Production
Short-run Cost |
5 | Students refer to student manual as needed | **Practice Game 2 | Long-run Production Long-run Cost |
6 | Students compete individually against computer managed firms | **Practice Games 3 & 4 | |
7 | Students compete individually against computer managed firms | Graded Games 1, 2 & 3 | |
8 | Class divided into firm teams to organize, review game reports, and prepare strategies | Team Decisions Quarter 1 | |
9-10 | Team Decisions Quarters 2 & 3 | ||
11 | Team Decisions Quarters 4 & 5 | ||
12 | Team Decisions Quarters 6 & 7 | ||
13 | Teams meet to evaluate performance and learning lessons | Prepare Team Reports on game performance | |
14 | WRAP-UP: Team Presentations – Optional | Team Reports due |
* Introduction Simulation Exercises require no knowledge of economics. The objective is to learn about the reports/information within the game. Exercises are automatically graded but we recommend this exercise not be counted toward the student grade.
**Practice games can be graded or not graded, and assigned to the individual or team. We recommend individually played practice games set up to mirror the Team game or build up to it. (i.e. level 1 game with only two decisions, to a level 2 with four decisions). We also recommend the first practice game not be graded.