1 Biz/ed Virtual Learning Arcade Andy Beharrell ILRT

2 Biz/ed Based at ILRT at University of Bristol Funded through collaboration with various organisations including: Higher Education funding bodies - JISC BBC Nuffield Foundation Foundation for Management Education Unilever / Virgin / TUC / Boots / Tesco Bank of England

3 Biz/ed access statistics

4 Biz/ed sections The main sections of the site are: Internet Catalogue Data Company Facts Learning Materials Virtual Worlds

5 Virtual Factory (Cameron Balloons) Virtual Economy (HM Treasury model) Virtual Developing Country (Zambia case study) Virtual Learning Arcade (20 economics and business simulations)

6 Virtual Economy An on-line model of the economy based on HM Treasury of the Economy. Funded by the Nuffield Foundation and produced in partnership with: Institute for Fiscal Studies, London Oxford University The Macroeconomic Modelling Bureau, Warwick University

7 Virtual Learning Arcade Funded under the JISC 5/99 learning and teaching call Development of a series of economics and business simulations Simulations supported by extensive learning materials All models and simulations now available

8 VLA models Large scale Labour supply model Child poverty London transport simulation Small scale (based on spreadsheet models) House prices Firms - costs, break-even, revenue Markets - house prices, agricultural prices …………….

9 VLA spreadsheet models Converted for the Web using a language called Model Master (MM) –MM is a programming language and compiler –Converts spreadsheets to common structure –Allows for conversion to HTML –Can compile and decompile spreadsheets into a variety of formats

10 VLA learning materials Learning materials include: Explanatory theory ‘Try this’ scenarios and worksheets Interactive questions Non-interactive questions Links to relevant Biz/ed resources Glossaries Internet catalogue etc.

11 Biz/ed Virtual Learning Arcade