About MobLab

MobLab provides a library of experimental economics games, surveys, and learning modules to engage students in active learning. MobLab activities can be run in as little as 20 minutes to fit a busy class schedule, or educators can utilize our expert-built activity modules to implement full-length active learning lectures.

Each activity is browser-based, requires no software installation, and scales to any class size — from a seminar of 10 to a lecture of 400. Students join through their Coursepack on HBI’s site.

This supplementary note is designed as a guide for running single-game simulations or games within the MobLab: All Access package.

Teaching Plan

MobLab games typically take anywhere from 15-30 minutes to run and are designed to work for classes of any size. We recommend reviewing the game, instructor guide, student instructions, and changing game parameters before class. Here’s a typical MobLab activity timeline:

• Game Set-up & Student Instructions: 5 minutes
• Game Play: 15 minutes
• Debrief: 10 minutes

To preserve class time, direct students to watch the provided video instructions before class. Most games provide a better playing and learning experience when everyone knows the rules.

Experiment Set Up

MobLab organizes games and experiments into Playlists. A Playlist is a collection of activities run during a class session. Add games and experiments to your Playlists from the Library. Once a game is added to a Playlist, you can modify the game parameters and play a Preview of the game with the changes you made.

Quick Start Guide – Single Simulation

Below is a guide on getting started with MobLab. Follow the steps below to run your first activity.

Step 1: Add to Coursepack

To get started with MobLab, first add the game to your Coursepack from the HBI Marketplace. You can create a new Coursepack or add to an existing one. 

Once the Coursepack is published and available to students, you can access the MobLab instructor console by clicking Manage Simulation. This will launch you into the MobLab instructor console.

Step 2: Navigating the Console

After selecting Manage Simulation, you will be brought to the MobLab Instructor Console. Click on any activity and use the Preview button to experience it exactly as students will. Adjust parameters (group size, round duration, payoff structure, information conditions) in the Configure tab. Each activity's Instructor Guide provides detailed guidance on parameter choices and their pedagogical effects.

Step 3: Run an Activity

When you're ready to begin a game, Open Activity. This opens the activity and students will be able to join.

To start the game, press Begin on the subsequent pop-up. There is no need to wait for all students to join the playlist before beginning the game, as they can join once the game is running.

Students who have already joined the session will automatically be grouped, and their games will start. Any student who joins after you press the Begin button will be placed into the last unfilled group.

Once the game is started, your screen will switch to the Monitor panel (see below), where you can follow the game's progress and add robotic players to the last unfilled group. Here you can also see how much time is left in the game, which groups have finished, who is in which group, and the details of each group.

The game will end automatically when the timer runs out, but you can also finish a game early when most or all of the groups have a Finished status.

Step 4: Activity Debrief

Once a game has finished, you can review the game Results and the game Scoreboard. You also have the option to download the anonymized game data and performance data.

Clicking Results will open a separate window displaying game-specific graphs and breakdown tables. Review the game results with your students to show them trends from the class and how their behavior compares to theoretical predictions. And if it's part of your plan, launch the Scoreboard to show off the high-scoring students to encourage some competition! Each game has unique results. Be sure to consult the game’s Teaching Note for a walk-through of what the results summary will show. Once a game has been played, you may copy or replay the game.

Student Experience

Students access the MobLab student console by clicking the Run Simulation link from their Coursepack.

Students join an Active Session by clicking on the session card with the game name. They will only see an Active Session card for activities that have been started.

If there are no active sessions, students may refresh the student console once a session has been activated. Upon joining a game, students will be randomly matched with other students to start playing. Remind your students to watch the timer and submit a move within the time limit. If an instructor has clicked Run Game but not Begin, then students will see a waiting screen.

They can stay here and their screen will automatically refresh when the game or survey begins. If a student gets logged out or accidentally leaves a game, they can rejoin the session anytime by clicking on the Active Session card.