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.