The undergraduate economics coursework of elementary and secondary school teachers

Abstract

In this study, the authors analyze the undergraduate economics coursework of U.S. college graduates who became pre-college classroom teachers. The results show that teachers successfully completed on average the equivalent of about half an economics course in their undergraduate coursework. About 6 in 10 teachers earned no course credits in economics. Of teachers certified to teach social studies—the ones most likely to teach economics—40 percent did not take an undergraduate course in economics. The percentages are 19 percent for high school teachers, 48 percent for middle school teachers, and 76 percent for elementary school teachers. High school teachers certified to teach social studies completed an average of only about one and a half economics courses as undergraduates.     

Perspectives on Economics in the School Curriculum: Coursework,Content, and Research

This review describes the conditions for teaching economics in the kindergarten through twelfth grade (K–12) curriculum in U.S. schools. The first section presents data on course-taking in economics in high schools and state mandates for economics instruction. It discusses the value of the infusion approach to teaching economics either in place of a separate course or as a complement to it. The second section describes the economic content that is taught to students as presented in content guides and standards. The final section presents research findings on (1) test instruments for measuring outcomes from economics instruction, (2) the effect of teacher coursework and training on the student economic understanding, and (3) how instructional materials complement or substitute for instructor selection and training.     

Laboratory Experiments for Undergraduate Instruction in Economics

The generation and use of experimental data in the teaching of economics are described. Attention is given to the classroom activities presented in the University of Arizona National Science Foundation–supported summer workshops that are mentioned in the article on the economics major in this issue.     

基于能力拓展的财经类本科生《营销学》教学改革研究

从拓展学生专业能力的角度而言,财经类本科生《市场营销学》教学改革首先要重视对学生的以“态度”、“细节”和“习惯”为基础的学习规划能力的培养。在此基础上,《营销学》教学内容要适应服务型经济对市场营销人才的要求;教学模式要突出互动性;应从现实可能性出发,切实加强《营销学》教学的实践环节;必须建立和完善本科生《营销学》学习成绩评价系统。     

The Recent Critique of Theoretical Economics: A Methodologically Informed Investigation

My purpose is to appraise the recent critique of theoretical economics by applying the methodological perspective. Therefore, I start by identifying the main lines of criticism raised against theoretical economics in the aftermath of the post-2008 global economic crisis: namely, the voices criticizing economics for its unrealistic models, excessive mathematization, and overconfidence in its theoretical claims. First, I show that these issues are interconnected and should be jointly analyzed. Next, I investigate these lines of critique from the perspective provided by the latest achievements in the philosophy of economics (e.g., studies on the epistemic role of economic models). Taking this perspective reinforces some allegations against economics (e.g., these voices accusing economists of treating economic laws as universal laws of nature) and makes some criticisms more nuanced (e.g., the issue of unrealistic assumptions). I conclude by stating that such a methodological perspective is necessary in critically apprising the recent critique of economics.     

Undergraduate Economics Education in English and Welsh Universities

A professor experienced in both the United Kingdom's and the United States' educational systems, the author describes and compares the two countries' economic education objectives and practices.     

The Fable of the Allegory: The Wizard of Oz in Economics

L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has become popular as a teaching tool in economics. It has been argued that it was written as an allegory of Populist demands for a bimetallic monetary system in the late 19th century. The author argues that Baum was not sympathetic to Populist views and did not write the story as a monetary allegory.     

Samuelson's Principles of Economics in 1948 and 1973

This article differs from those usually found in this journal, but it was felt that it would be of interest to most college teachers of economics. Professor Brazelton has systematically compared early and recent editions of Paul Samuelson's famous textbook, noting how Samuelson has substantially changed over a period of 25 years. Because Samuelson's text has had a profound influence on the content and approach to the introductory course, the changes that have occurred in that book should be noted by everyone responsible for teaching principles of economics.     

财经类院校高年级本科生科研能力培养模式研究

面对人才需求的日益多元化,财经类院校如何培养出满足这一需求的创新型和高层次人才具有极大的现实意义。首先分析加强高年级本科生科研能力培养的意义,接着对其中存在的问题进行深入分析,进而以安徽财经大学经济学院为例,从完善本科生导师制、以经济学国家级特色专业建设为契机、依托大学生科研项目等方面探讨如何提升高年级本科生科研创新的能力。     

论区域经济在国家和地区发展中的作用

区域经济是市场经济条件下国民经济增长的主要动力和源泉,其自身有突出的运行特点、发展规律。通过分析区域经济的内容及模式,可以正确制定促进国家和地区发展的政策和战略,在西部大开发当中,应当更加重视区域经济理论的指导作用。     

论思维范式在高校《西方经济学》之素质教学中的应用

当前,传统的《西方经济学》教学已经日益显现出其局限性,因此,探讨既符合课程本身的内在要求又有助于提高学生专业素质的新教学方法就显得意义非常。以思维范式的概念界定为分析起点,提出了与传统《西方经济学》教学不同的、更具实际价值的相关的思维范式教学。并进一步详细分析了思维范式在教学内容、教学方法、学生学习等方面的应用,为提高高校《西方经济学》的素质教学质量提供了具有可操作性的理论与实践参考。     

案例教学法在理论经济学教学中的探索与实践

在马克思主义理论经济学教学中引入案例教学法是符合教学改革的趋势的,能有效调动学生学习的积极性,提高学生的综合素质。理论经济学中采用案例教学,要求精心选择教材,精心选择案例,精心组织分析及总结等。加强对案例教学的教师培训教育,与其他教学方法相配合,能更好地搞好理论经济学教学工作。     

应用型外经贸人才培养研究

入世后，我国对高素质外经贸人才的需求不断增加，尤其对实用型、创新型外经贸人才需求急迫。本文通过对目前外经贸人才培养存在的问题进行分析，提出了应用型外经贸人才培养的新举措。     

改革开放实践中的马克思主义经济学--关于实施马克思主义理论研究和建设工程的几点思考

中国改革开放的目的在于走共同富裕之路，达到全面小康。这要求在实践中坚持立党为公、执政为民、以民为本，创造出社会主义条件下社会经济发展新模式。马克思主义经济学思想的发展是在全新的经济发展的物质基础发生转换时提出的，建设一个有诚信的市场体系，是发展经济的当务之急。任何改革都必须从立党为公、执政为民的高度来设计方案，以科学发展观评判结果。马克思主义经济学理论研究必须坚持它的阶级性、科学性、实践性的高度统一。     

Preparing Graduate Students in Economics for Teaching: Survey Findings and Recommendations

Survey data from PhD-granting economics departments are used to assess the teaching preparation of graduate students in economics. The results show that relatively few departments require graduate student instructors to take a credit course in teaching before teaching their own course or leading a recitation section. Although more graduate student instructors are required to take a noncredit course in teaching before serving as an instructor or recitation leader, the value of such noncredit courses may be limited. The assessment of teaching preparation by department chairs shows mixed responses, with about three-fifths rating it as very good or good and about two-fifths considering it to be only adequate or poor. Recommendations are offered for improving the teaching preparation of graduate student instructors in economics.     

地方应用型本科高校教师教学考核体系研究--以铜陵学院为例

教学考核是衡量教师教学质量的重要内容,也是应用型本科高校进行教学激励、充分调动教师教学积极性的重要举措。如何提高应用型本科高校的师资水平,培养造就一支师德高尚、业务精湛的高素质专业化教师队伍,构建一套使教师素质与应用型人才培养目标一致的教学考核体系,对于能否培养出满足社会需求的高层次应用型人才极为关键。     

Universal Health Care and the Economics of Responsibility

In the American health care system the cost of health insurance is underwritten by all three sectors of the economy: 1) households; 2) employers; and 3) government. However, while costs are shared, responsibility is not. The retreat of private firms and government from assuming a substantial share of the burden of health care costs is based on the presumption that health care is an individual’s responsibility, while the contributions of government and the private sector are basically optional - a matter of benevolence rather than responsibility. The outcome of the current debates over health care reform will depend on this issue of responsibility. Who should pay for health care? Is it a collective responsibility or an individual one? In this paper, we explore the economics of responsibility as it applies to health care. In the institutionalist framework, any reallocation of costs must be driven by an underlying philosophy of shared responsibility.     

Economics and psychology in the twenty-first century

This paper begins by exploring four different possible formsof relationship between economics and psychology, which havedifferent connotations in terms of the relative status of thetwo disciplines. It then focuses on the future for one of these,psychological economics. After setting out the hardcore axiomsand positive and negative heuristics of a research programmein psychological economics, it explores institutional and psychologicalbarriers to the success of such a research programme in thecontext of both research and teaching.