T-shirts, moonshine, and autopsies:
Using podcasts to engage undergraduate microeconomics students
Rebecca Moryl, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics
Department of Management & Economics, Emmanuel College
Prepared for the 7th Annual Economics Teaching Conference – October 2011
Research Study Abstract.: This paper assesses the use of podcasts as the focus of required assignments in an introductory
microeconomic course. Professionally-produced, economics-themed podcasts are introduced as a medium for supplementing
traditional course material, rather than as a venue for replication of course lectures. A student self-assessment survey is used to
assess the effectiveness of a variety of podcast-related assignments. The survey finds that a large majority of students find this use of
podcasts helps them to understand economic concepts and how economics is relevant to the world.
Research Results
In class discussion:
95% agreed or strongly agreed it helped them to
understand how economic concepts are applied in the
world.
Student Feedback on Use of Podcasts
“I enjoyed listening to the Planet Money Podcasts that were
assigned. I felt they were a good way to apply real life current
examples to economics and the business world.”
“The podcasts are a great way to understand real life and current
economic issues”
Listening to podcasts on weekly basis:
90% agreed or strongly agreed helped them understand
how economics is relevant to the world;
80% agreed or strongly agreed helped their
understanding of economic concepts.
“The podcasts make me more interested in economics which I
find to be the best part about them”
“The utilization of Planet Money podcasts in addition to the text
and course material was extremely helpful in understanding the
concepts talked about in class.”
T-shirts, moonshine, and autopsies: Using podcasts to engage undergraduate microeconomics students
Rebecca Moryl, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics
Department of Management & Economics, Emmanuel College
Planet Money Podcast Memos
Memo Requirements: The purpose of the memo is for you to communicate to me how at least two podcasts you’ve listened to this
semester relate to microeconomics. Each memo should identify at least two specific microeconomic concepts and explain how they
are used in (or relate to) one or more recent podcasts.
Current Events Economic Analysis Group Project You will select or be assigned groups of three. Each group will take on the role
of the Planet Money team to prepare a ‘live broadcast’ and present to our class a Planet Money-style (micro)economic analysis of an
issue of your choice.
Topics could include:
· A current events issue – something in the news that you think has a microeconomics angle we should know about;
· An aspect of daily life that has a microeconomics angle that we might not have thought of, or that we can learn from
considering more deeply;
· A follow up of a question posed in a Planet Money podcast, or inspired by our discussion of the podcasts.
Together your team will research and prepare a presentation of the micro economic aspects of the topic you choose. Be careful to
choose an issue with microeconomic relevance. Your presentation will need to incorporate the traditional key elements of the Planet
Money podcast, including a Planet Money indicator! You will be required to use some visual aid or engaging handout as part of your
presentation, this can be Powerpoint or some other technique of your choice. Details of the requirements and grading rubric for this
assignment will be discussed in a few weeks and posted on blackboard. You will be able to earn bonus points for creative / dynamic
presentations.
Listening to twice-weekly podcasts
The foundation of these assignments is the required listening to two Planet Money podcasts per week,
for a total of twenty-eight current podcasts over a fourteen week semester.
Listening to specifically assigned podcasts
Students were also required to listen to six topic-specific podcasts from the archive of previously
released podcasts. Those podcasts related directly to the topics covered in a particular week, such as:
· Determinants of demand (Why a dead shark costs $12 million),
· Utility and consumer surplus (Lebronomics),
· Tax incidence (Death saves you money),
· Elasticity (Moonshine stimulus),
· Globalization (India’s economy is booming).
Additional Ideas
Memos could also be
assigned as online
journal blogposts for
students to share
Students could
actually make their
final presentations
into real ‘podcasts’
to be reviewed by
peers.