Using Aplia software to teach
principles of economics
Brendan Kennelly and David Duffy
Department of Economics
NUI Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Principles of Economics at NUI
Galway
• 700 first year students taking economics split into
2 class groups
• Students are pursuing a variety of degrees
• Course is a year long course; 2 lecturers teaching
each group (micro and macro)
• Three 50 minute lectures a week; One 50 minute
tutorial a week taught by postgraduate students
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Previous Attempts to Improve the
Student Experience
• 8 written assignments each semester
– Only 2 were corrected by a pool of 10 tutors
– Problems emerged with
• Consistency in grading
• A lack of feedback for students
• Time pressures on lecturers administering the assignments
• Content management technology
– Distribution of lecture notes and other
communication via blackboard
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Aplia (www.aplia.com)
• Web based technology designed to improve the
student learning experience
• Aplia is a web-based product offering
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Automatically graded problem sets
Math review tests and tutorials
Economic experiments
Interactive economic models
News analysis exercises
A blog tailored to typical first year course content
Support to lecturers
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Automatically Graded
Assignments
• Weekly paired practice and graded problem sets
– Allows students to select their own learning path
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Encourages regular effort
Provides students with timely feedback
Consistency in grading
Allows students to select multiple paths
Students work with interactive economic models
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Maths Tests and Tutorials
• Students identify math weakness on a pre test
• Students select from 5 animated math tutorials
with accompanying exercises
• Students improve upon initial math test scores in
a second math test if required
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Live Economics Experiments
• Key elements in experimental learning require
some effort and creativity on the part of the
lecturer
• Experiments may not work without student
preparation
• Aplia provides
– Pre experiment preparation
– Easy to use experiments
– Post experiment evaluation
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Economic Comprehension
• Bring economics to life in the classroom with
discussion of topical news items
• Analysis requires preparation on the part of
students
• Aplia provides news articles with student
preparation exercises
• An Aplia blog allows students the opportunity to
further analyse and discuss economic issues
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Systematic evidence on
effectiveness
• One paper in AER (May 2006)
• Random trial of students in an economics class in
Western Michigan University
• Those assigned to complete the diagnostic maths
test on Aplia performed better on the course.
Results were stronger for weaker students
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Student Feedback: What type of
Assignments do you prefer?
National University of Ireland, Galway
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What effect did Aplia assignments have on
your overall understanding of the course?
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Would you want Aplia to be used
for another course?
National University of Ireland, Galway
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What are Galway Students Saying
About Aplia?
“Aplia gives you a better understanding of economics and gives
you different angles to look at economics than the lecture.”
“It is also easier to check how you did in an assignment, it
shows where you went wrong and gives you the correct
answer straight away.”
“Mostly I liked the convenience of Aplia. I had both the
assignment and online chapter available on one screen. My
assignment was submitted with just a click of a button.”
National University of Ireland, Galway
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What are Galway Students Saying
About Aplia?
“I would like to see Aplia used in other courses as its more
convenient than pen and paper assignments, it always allows
you to see what questions you got wrong and you can learn
from that.”
“Motivation to do work during term. Keeps you on top of
topics yet not too onerous.”
“It is more efficient than regular assignments. Aplia makes you
think about things more. Its more than likely the future way of
studying so why not start now!”
National University of Ireland, Galway
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What did Galway Tutors Say
About Aplia?
“Aplia has reduced administrative duties as we didn't
have to collect or correct assignments. This allowed
more time for teaching which was more interesting and
interactive as students were more willing to take part in
discussions and work together.”
“Aplia experiments were simple to set up and easy to
work. I didn’t experience any technical problems in the
use of Aplia.”
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Other issues
• Service also used very successfully for a course
taught by blended learning
• Substantial reduction in time spent by lecturers in
preparing assignments
• Customized versions available for some
textbooks
• Cheating
• Cost
National University of Ireland, Galway
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Other issues
• No room for open-ended answers
• Scope to reduce number of tutorials and/or to
change the nature of these
National University of Ireland, Galway
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A Message from the Creator of
Aplia
“I’m not surprised that one of the technologically
most innovative countries of the world has
students who respond well to technologically
innovative instructors and materials!”
Paul Romer, Professor of Economics,
Stanford Business School and Creator of Aplia
National University of Ireland, Galway
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