Activity Name: Widgets

Time Required: 8-10 hrs

Class Size: 20-30 (7 groups of 3/4 people)

Level: Intermediate, Advanced

Material Req.: Computer program. Copy of material. One room for each group. Signs for each group taped next to company's location.

Optimum Time: Monday, week 4 or 5.

Aim: For each group to realize their mission statement. To gain EMU entry.

Background: Simulates a small economy. Similar to Jaguar, but more complicated and with more interaction. Computer program has much on-line help.

Procedure: Inbrief - Introduce economy. Explain basic economics: GDP, debt and deficit ratios. Explain concept of European Monetary Union (EMU). Explain how trade and business takes place. Hand out cover sheet. Students read. Divide into groups and send each to their room.

Strategy - Students work on strategy especially: how to realize mission statement. Government works on policy to enter EMU.

Contracts for 2001 - Groups interact with each other. Labour contracts are signed. Parts contracts are signed. Each group specifies their inputs. Hand in forms to teacher

Run model - Teacher inputs data into model, runs program, saves results and prints. Hands out copy to each group.

Repeat - Repeat above two steps (contracts and run) for years 2002, 2003 and 2004. Note: 2004 is EMU target date.

Government meeting (optional)- Government calls a meeting of all groups to try and set economic policy.

Run model for years 2005, 2006, 2007

Debrief - Each groups presents performance graphs showing profit and other data. Discusses whether mission statement was achieved.

Teacher's Role: You will be very busy running computer program. Make sure you understand how to do this well in advance.

Additional Notes: Will need to push students in early years to sign contracts. Teacher can take on role of Government if short of students.

Language Feature: Business and Economic terms.

If time is short/long?: If short, run fewer years. Don't hold Government meeting. Need to run minimum five years to understand model. If long, simulate more years. Hold more meetings.