Explains that authentic teaching and assessment enable students to utilize their prior knowledge, recent learning, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills in real-world contexts. Describes examples of authentic teaching and assessment that use the "Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics" as a framework for economics…

Illustrates how nonendowment cash flows (tuition, grants, and gifts) affect the portfolio allocation decisions for the endowment and are "efficient" in terms of the total wealth of the institution. A mathematical appendix displays the reasoning behind the model. (Contains 12 references and 4 tables.) (Author/MLF)

The most striking feature of the Japanese social studies curriculum at the elementary level is its role as the instructor of Japanese national values and attitudes. The social studies curriculum has gone through four major revisions since World War II. In the most recent revision, in the early 1980's, the focus has been on instituting new teaching…

Practicing teachers who took a Masters of Instruction program showed a mastery of economics comparable to regular college students taking intermediate theory courses and significantly more positive attitudes toward economics. However, the study raised serious questions concerning the effectiveness of college economics teaching and the economic…

UNESCO's Associated Schools Project developed an interregional project for secondary school students in Asia, Europe, and Latin America to study disarmament, the new international economic order, and human rights. The reasons for studying contemporary problems and choosing these issues, the stages of the project, and its evaluation are discussed.…

Briefly reviews recent innovations in economics instruction including simulations and materials from the Internet. Provides an annotated bibliography of relevant citations from the ERIC database. Noted materials include journal articles, research reports, articles on how to find information, and discussions about the Internet. (MJP)

Provides an overview of the criticism leveled at the use of Total Quality Management (TQM) in teaching economics. Proposes an alternative use of TQM that relies more on traditional student-teacher interaction. The alternative TQM uses quality circles, one-minute papers, and quality check sheets. (MJP)

Reports on a national survey of 207 undergraduate economics instructors. Although the lecture method still dominates, many instructors noted that they had integrated more participatory activities such as class discussions, group activities, and instructor questions into their instruction. Includes statistical tables showing characteristics and…

Describes an innovative instructional technique for teaching the economic analysis of public policies. Teams of four to six students with different skills and different tasks work together as economic decision making units in a series of instructional simulations. Discusses implementation, activities, and assessment. (MJP)

Reviews literature assessing research about the teaching and learning of high school economics. Examines how student learning has been measured using results from the Test of Economic Literacy (TEL). Considers research design and two models for assessing learning and findings. Concludes standardized test scores do not reveal differences among…

Reports on the use of Microsim, a computer simulation, to teach an introductory college statistics/econometrics course. Reports enhanced student involvement, improved student achievement, and positive student attitudes toward the course as a result of using the simulation. (CFR)

Asserts that the world has become more economically interdependent but that economics instruction does not adequately provide students with this knowledge or its significance. Provides a rationale for global economic education and a set of economic concepts and generalizations that would enhance understanding of global issues. (CFR)

Reports on a study of introductory college economics textbooks on the quality and quantity of coverage of the economic status of women and minorities. Finds that textbooks still have a tendency to exclude women and minorities from the general discussion and disguise the multiplicity of explanations for observed differences. (CFR)

Presents an inquiry lesson about social, economic, and political changes in Vietnam since 1986. Discusses the background for the lesson and asserts that students will use processes of inquiry and critical thinking to complete the assignments. Includes instructional materials and suggestions. (CFR)

The second part of a British study of elementary teacher trainees' economic and industrial understanding is presented. In this segment, student teachers' attitudes toward economic issues and their perceptions of teaching as work are examined, particularly as they affect implementation of the economics portion of the national curriculum. (MSE)