Classroom experiments can be easily set up to run through standard
internet browsers, which avoids the need to install special software
on the students' ("client") personal computers. The
instructions, decisions, and market signals are communicated via
interactive web pages, with data stored in a database on the web
server for later use in classroom discussions. The advantages
of web-based interactions (over in-class experiments or programs
that run on a local area network) are 1) scalability to accommodate
potentially large numbers of students, 2) flexible hours to save
class time for discussion, and flexible locations to allow students
to connect from any personal computer with a standard web browser.
This paper surveys a number of different sites that provide classroom
applications of economics experiments. Some technical issues,
of interest to those who want to develop their own web applications,
are also addressed.
First version: January 2001
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