To utilize in your classroom, you can select simulation games & simulation exercises that fit your time frame and curriculum level. The major difference between these are:

For simulation games students compete individually or in teams using tools of economics, making decisions to maximize profits whereas for simulation exercises students observe what is happening in pre-set games and answer a series of multiple choice questions or problems to learn a specific topic such as demand, equilibrium, price elasticity, production, costs and more.  Both are automatically graded.

Links below contain example course outlines on how the game is integrated:

OPTION 1 – Utilize as a capstone event
• Near end of the semester set up a practice game played individually followed by a simulation competition where student teams compete against each other.
• Students have a real opportunity to apply the economic theories and tools of analysis that they have learned all semester.


OPTION 2– Utilize throughout the Course
• Early in the semester assign simulation games and exercises; advantages are:
• Students have the opportunity to apply economic theories and tools of analysis as they learn them in class.
• Integrating simulation games with your course lectures and reading material is a very effective learning approach.

OPTION 3 – Mix of options 1 and 2

For above options, you can select games of different levels:

Simplest Level
• 2 decisions (price & production); stable macroeconomy; no random events.

Advanced Level
• 4 decisions (price, production, advertising, plant size); changing macroeconomy; random events.