Teaching AP ECONOMICS Conference June 23-26, 2014 Ball State University Presenter: PEGGY PRIDE mpride01@gmail.com 618-407-2104 Dear AP Economics Workshop Participants, I am happy to welcome you to the Teaching AP ECONOMICS Workshop at Ball State University. Prepare yourself for four days of intense immersion into Economic Theory, Teaching Materials, Games and Simulations, Quizzes and Tests, Syllabi and Teaching Tips. I have prepared a brief outline of goals and objectives and a tentative agenda for the workshop sessions. Please examine this set of ideas related to the conference. Feel free to contact me at my email address or phone me with questions. I am now retired from St. Louis University High School, St. Louis MO. after teaching AP Economics since 1990. It was a great 26-year teaching experience in an all boys’ Jesuit College Prep High School-wondrous, interested students. In 1995, I became active in the AP Economics community. I served on the Test Development Committee for 5 years and at the Annual Readings for 12 years as Reader, Table Leader and Micro Question Leader. Over the course of 35 years of teaching, I have developed various teaching materials and gained insight into the Principles of Economics. I have been a College Board Consultant since 1995 and have given one-day workshop across the Midwest and many in Indiana. I am happy to share my knowledge and expertise with you and I hope the workshop experience will be of benefit and aid to you in assisting your students with their study of Economics. If possible, please bring your current or future textbook (if available) to the conference. In addition, try to bring with you a lesson or activity that you have used or developed. Sharing our best practices will be a part of the course. I have a short email survey for you if you would be so kind to complete. Send the replies to my email address as noted above. 1. Your current teacher load—courses you will teach next year (if known) 2. If applicable, years of teaching Economics and years of teaching AP Economics 3. Specific economic concepts or tips you would like to discuss/develop during the workshop. I look forward to seeing you in June. Sincerely, Peggy Pride Goals and Objectives 1. To prepare both new and experienced teachers of AP Economics through an intensive review of curriculum content, textbook evaluations, testing details and time management 2. To share with participants a set of teaching materials that will form the basis of preparation for aiding their students in successful completion of the AP Economics exams and enrichment of the classroom experience. 3. To help guide participants in adding a variety of starter activities and “real world” applications to their teaching. 4. To model for participant’s lessons of challenging economic concepts, including: graphing of market models, externalities, Aggregate Demand and Supply, Monetary policy, loanable funds market, Phillips Curve, Game Theory, MRP and others. Course Readings and other Materials 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Any current Principles of Economics textbook from the approved list found at AP Central under the AP Audit Materials link. Attempts to obtain five current year textbooks will be made but the guarantee that these texts will be available is not given. New Teacher’s Guide for AP Economics 2007 (College Board Publication) Special Focus publications (College Board Publication) 20313-2014 Professional Development Workshop Materials: Exam Resources and Program Information Book (College Board Publication) Materials developed for discussion and completion by the workshop presenter. Agenda This agenda is presented as a topics list but the plan is that as we discuss each of the topics, we will discuss the types of activities, lesson pacing, assessment tools, and general tips for understanding. I will be alert to the strengths and weaknesses of the participants as I proceed. I will insert participation games that the teachers can use in their classes to break the intensity of the topic concepts. We will develop lesson materials in groups and individually. MONDAY I. What is AP Economics? a. Exploring the philosophy of the course b. Resources i. ii. iii. iv. Teacher’s Guide for AP Economics Regional Office and AP Coordinator AP Central for Economics AP Teacher Community c. Test Administration a. Learning about the process of testing and scoring b. Reports to Students and Teachers II. Promoting the AP Economics course a. b. c. d. e. Equity and Access to the course Students views Parents views Counselor views Principal and Central Administration III. Teacher responsibility a. AP Course Audit b. Course organization i. ii. Course Description and Outline Key Skills and Concepts b. Workshops and publications IV. Student responsibility a. AP and the College Experience b. Study materials c. Thinking like an economist d. Organizing time and effort V. Economic Content Review and Discussion Microeconomics a. Basic Concepts-Scarcity, Efficiency b. Production-possibilities curve/absolute and comparative advantage (Macro and micro concept) c. Circular flow (Macro and micro concept) d. Supply and Demand e. Price ceilings/price floors f. Elasticity of Demand/Supply g. Utility, Diminishing Marginal Utility and Returns h. Using Special Focus Mastering Economic Thinking Skills i. AP Economics questions covering these topics TUESDAY Microeconomics (cont’d) a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. Production Costs Perfect Competition Perfect Competition in both the product and factors market AP questions relating to perfect competition Imperfect markets: Monopoly and Monopolistic competition Game Theory and Oligopoly AP questions relating to imperfect markets Efficiency and Marginal Thinking Using Special Focus Mastering Economic Thinking Skills AP Economics questions covering these topics Macroeconomics a. b. c. d. e. Measuring the Macroeconomy Aggregate Demand, its components and the multiplier Aggregate Supply—short run and long run AP Questions relating to Aggregate Supply and Demand Monetary and Fiscal Policy f. International Trade and Finance g. Using Special Focus Mastering Economic Thinking Skills h. AP Economics questions covering these topic WEDNESDAY On this day we will begin to work in groups to examine a syllabus and a topic plan for one unit. We will discuss the type of homework, quizzes, readings and projects needed to fulfill our prepared objectives of the topic plan. VI. Considering Course materials for AP Economics Part 1 a. Converting the Course Description to a working syllabus b. Schedule-fit the course to your own school’ time c. Textbook examination and selection VII. Considering Course materials for AP Economics Part 2 a. b. c. d. Activities and “starters” Web sites and CD’s Videos and DVD Assessment and grading procedures i. ii. iii. iv. Sample quizzes and exams Homework assignments Papers and other assignments Readings beyond textbook e. Study guides and tips f. Review Schedule and Preparation THURSDAY On this day, we will work to prepare assessment tools that are needed to measure progress and success in mastery of topic plan objectives. VIII. Using 2010 MC Section a. Using Samples from 2014 Free Response Section a. Review of value and use b. Simulation of the reading IX. Best Practice brainstorming a. Micro concepts b. Macro concepts c. Tools, technology and gimmicks! d. Tips for preparing students for the AP exams X. What about …? a. Limited funding? b. Block Schedule? XI. Looking forward to starting the class a. Thinking about the first day activity b. Everyday Strategies Assignments during the conference: The idea of the assignments during the conference and individually is to be prepared in the fall to add these finished documents into an AP Economics course. As well, the goal is to set a template for future course and lesson planning. 1. We will work in groups to examine and expand a working syllabus. 2. We will discuss how to set up and create a unit plan, and topic lessons plans for that unit using materials given in workshop. 3. Sharing of each groups’ work with others will help to focus discussion. 4. We will work during the session on the composition details of an assessment tool and rubric for one topic. 4. No final exam (per se) will be given but the success of the conference will be gauged by the evaluative survey given at the end of the session.