There are online sources for everything these days—that is, everything except what we do all day in the real business world.  How can a teen with no experience of business learn the lessons he or she needs in order to make his or her way in the business world?  A new website, called the Informatist (www.informatist.net) provides a way for students to get access to sophisticated business simulation technology online—and it's free!

Business is Global—Teens want to Interact With their Peers from Around the World.

Business is more global than ever.  The Informatist business simulation mirrors this reality by providing its tools to teens around the world.  The Informatist gives everyone the same basic start—some money, some land and the chance to better themselves in a competitive setting.  Each student has the opportunity to buy stock, take a course, hire employees, and move from a fringe suburb (sounds like a slum) to a great neighborhood—assuming that they can gather the resources it takes to move up in the world.

As in the real world, the Informatist allows students to make choices which will influence their path in their virtual economic life.  A student can remain a day-laborer, which means that the paycheck can go for today's needs (carpe diem!), or a player can decide to invest in his or her future by purchasing education.  Pleasure today or pleasure tomorrow—how more real can it get?

Many of the elements involved in this business simulation are actually quite simple.  If one decides to be a pharmacist, for example, one can buy a pharmacy, hire employees and open the doors for business.  How do you grow your pharmacy?  Educate the employees, invest in facilities, and advertise.  Just like the real world, isn't it?  How do you make a killing on speculation?  You can buy stocks—again, just as in the real world.  You can lose your shirt, or, if you buy early and judiciously, you can make a killing.

Welcome to the modern business simulation!