This paper deals with the development of a Web‐based integrated system for distance graduate studies of theories of optimization, games, and markets, which is aimed to support core curriculum and to provide students with hands‐on experience on effective use of software tools. The main objective is to stimulate and develop creative abilities to work as independent researchers. This can be explained by detailed description of a typical example: the Stock Exchange Game Model (SEGM). That is the purpose of this paper. The web‐site http://mockus.org/optimum includes SEGM and accompanying models. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 10: 229–237, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.10027