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.