Quizlet and Studying for Tests

Admittedly one needs to know a lot more than just vocabulary in economics, but it is certainly a place to start.  So one thing you can do is to have your students use Quizlet to see if they know all of their vocabulary.   Quizlet allows students to use traditional flash cards as well as a number of learning games.  You can even set it up for your class and each student can compete against one another.   Above is an example of factors of production.  You can choose to make the cards yourself, have your students do so or even just use someone else's as I have done here.  But if you go with the last choice, make sure you like each card.  Alternatively, if you set up an account, you could make a copy of someone else's cards and then make them exactly the way you want them.  

Remind Your Students Using Texts

Today I found an article on the Washington Post that goes with along with what some of my students are doing for homework.  So, today I sent them the link to the article and was able to do it because all of my students voluntarily sign up for Remind.com because they like the reminder.  You can send a simple text and even add an attachment and, if you want to, put it on Twitter as well.  Over the years I have used it I have become convinced that kids, more than not, don't do their homework because of poor planning or organization and Remind has helped immensely on this.  Above is a video explaining how to use it.  Of course the service is free and parents can sign up for it as well.  Finally it is also only a one way text. 

Factor Markets Explained

We just started factor markets in my economics' class.  The graphs can be a bit complicated and if your students need help, look to ACDC videos to help you.  Here is the link to the videos on factor markets and above is the one explaining the firm and the market in a perfectly competitive market. 

Allocative and Productive Efficiency

While this is too long to give to your students if you are struggling with allocative and productive efficacy in a perfectly competitive market, then it will be a good primer for you. Thanks to Rich Hoppock for finding it.  By the way it is part of Wekler Wikicomonics which is a great source of learning for students and teachers. 

Monopolistic Competition

So as I have been telling you, I am mostly using Andrew Foos' videos, but was a little concerned with his monopolistic video as it is over ten minutes so I went trolling and found the six minute one above which is more than excellent.  It does everything Andrew does, but in a bit short format (remembering that I am still using mostly Foos videos).  It gives a great chart comparing monopolistic, monopoly and perfect competition, has graphs to show the differences and explains the commonalities and differences very succinctly.   It comes from mjmfoodie whom I have spoken about before.  Her angle seems to be short, great graphics and nice explanations.   I guess my main point with all of this is to know your students and mix and match to get your perfect set of flip videos. 

Khan Academy for a Flipped Classroom

I believe I have blogged about this before, but if done correctly, you can almost, if not entirely teach economics without a textbook.,  Here, for example, is the Khan academy series on microeconomics and here is the one on macroeconomics.

After the students watch the videos, you can go over the highlights, answer questions and quiz them. I usually have students write down the diagram, labeling everything (just as is done on the AP exam) and we work out a few problems together. Then the students work on the problem sets and I move around the room. 

Dominant Strategy and Nash Equilibrium