Argues that secondary economics teachers must help students learn to apply fundamental economics concepts to real problems. Advocates the critical thinking approach. Outlines goals, objectives, content, and procedures for an inquiry lesson that teaches the concepts land, labor, and capital through a problem-solving, hypothesis-testing method.…

Reports on a collaboration between an economist and a writing instructor in using a writing-to-learn approach in a higher education history of economic thought course. Describes the course content, provides examples of writing assignments, and student evaluation sheets. (CFR)

Asserts that using children's literature in social studies can enrich the course content and help achieve prescribed objectives. Maintains that well-planned activities based on carefully chosen books are necessary for successful implementation of this approach. Recommends 23 books in 4 subject categories: (1) cultural studies; (2) geographical…

Describes a classroom experiment in cooperative learning, in which economics students were grouped into learning teams and given a computer simulation package to learn the effects of fiscal/monetary policy on various economic variables. Results included thorough coverage of course material, greater student interest, better discussion, higher…

Describes an undergraduate economics course experiment designed to teach the concepts of comparative advantage and opportunity costs. Students have a limited number of labor hours and can chose to produce either wheat or steel. As the project progresses, the students trade commodities in an attempt to maximize use of their labor hours. (MJP)

Presents a relatively simple costs/benefits analysis problem perfectly suited for an introductory economics course. Reveals that neither the health insurer (which bears only the hospitalization costs of acute care) nor the patient (who incurs lost earnings and psychological costs) has an adequate incentive to pay for preventive care. (MJP)

Highlights the differences between American and Australian undergraduate economics instruction and indicates those aspects of the American teaching model likely to be adapted. Specifically, Australian teachers favored deemphasizing the traditional lecture/tutorial model in favor of a more student-oriented approach. (MJP)

Argues that economic literacy is necessary for an informed opinion about the factors influencing our society and government. Maintains that, currently, high school students' misinformation about economic facts and their inability to perform economic analysis puts our economy at risk. Advocates increasing objective and nonpartisan economics…

Investigates the impact and relationship of notetaking techniques, notetaking functions, and measures of working memory on learning in an introductory college economics course. Compares conventional (taking notes in the customary fashion) with the outline method (recording notes in spaces on an instructor-provided outline). Includes suggestions…

Focuses on the state of gender bias in graduate economics education using a mail questionnaire to persons earning doctoral degrees in economics during 1970-89. Women reported less social contact, fewer collaborative publications, and less access to academic/professional advice from predominantly male faculty members. (MJP)

This unit utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to economics education for children in middle school. The focus is on consumer awareness and there are four sections of learning activities and suggestions, one for each of the core disciplines: language arts, social studies, science, and math. The unit gives students experiences with concepts…

This study guide is designed as an aid to individuals taking the Georgia Teacher Certification Test (TCT) in home economics. Statements of course objectives highlight areas in which the student should be knowledgeable: (1) individual development and social and family relationships; (2) clothing, textiles, and care of fabrics; (3) nutrition; (4)…

Oregon's Parenthood Curriculum has been designed for use within the state's middle/junior high school home economics classrooms; its overall goal is to enable future parents to nurture their children, based on a practical reasoning process that helps students examine the underlying causes of practical problems and the implications of solutions for…

A compilation of lessons on Japanese history and cultural and contemporary issues is divided into sections for middle schools and high schools. A total of four lessons and a board game are contained in section one, lessons for middle schools. Lessons focus on Japanese schools; Japanese houses, past and present; and economic interdependence.…

This curriculum guide was developed to help elementary education teachers incorporate economics lessons into the social studies curriculum. First, second, and third grade students study the concepts of: (1) economic institutions; (2) scarcity; (3) choice and decision-making; (4) specialization and exchange; and (5) economic systems. A curriculum…