Experiential Learning Tools

Wharton's unique experiential learning tools challenge students to take risks, analyze results, and experiment with different strategies – before tackling similar risks when the stakes are real.

Students in undergraduate, MBA, and executive classes gain experience in strategic decision-making, using more than two dozen innovative simulations and multimedia tools developed with Wharton faculty at Wharton's Alfred P. West, Jr. Learning Lab.

Risk and Discovery

Wharton's Learning Lab tools help to crystallize complex financial concepts. Other simulations engage students in intensive team-based decision-making and risk-taking – in high stakes negotiations, price wars, or budget allocations.

Often with no single 'right answer', these technology-supported learning tools stimulate debate, discovery, and high-level interaction among students and faculty.

Used in courses across Wharton's academic departments, simulations include:

  • The Wharton Innovation Toolkit, a comprehensive set of online course modules that lead students in Innovation and Entrepreneurship courses through competitive product design, competitive business design, business design optimization, and competitive market segmentation. Developed under the faculty leadership of Prof. Ian C. MacMillan, the simulation is based on MacMillan's business best-seller, The Entrepreneurial Mindset, co-authored by Rita Gunther McGrath.
  • Hedge, used by students in Wharton's International Corporate Finance classes to gain hands-on experience as international corporate financial managers facing foreign exchange risk from various sources.
  • Rules of Engagement, designed to reinforce the study of strategy and game theory in Marketing courses by allowing students to try differing strategies in a realistic, competitive environment.

These are just a sample of the dozens of experiential learning tools developed by Wharton's Learning Lab. » More




Real-World Applicaton

"I'm a numbers guy so I was surprised that my favorite class last year was Marketing 622 (Marketing Management: Strategy) with Professor David Bell. We used the marketing strategy game, Sabre, and a lot of what we learned has real application as issues we might face as a business owner or CEO."

Bradford J. Cornell, WG'06

Learning Simulations

Wharton's 'RATE'

Wharton's Resource Allocation Teaching Environment ('RATE') allows students to experiment with different resource allocation models in a simulated market environment.


Wharton's 'RATE'

Wharton's MarketSpace places students in the role of product managers who need to develop a new product strategy in response to an aggressive competitor entering the market.