Learning Techniques
Bloom's Taxonomy
• Benjamin Bloom created this taxonomy for
categorizing the level of abstraction of
questions that commonly occur in educational
settings. The taxonomy provides a useful
structure in which to categorize test questions
and other assignments
• Professors characteristically ask questions
within particular levels, and if students can
determine the levels of questions that will
appear on exams, they will be able to study
using appropriate strategies.
Adapted from: Bloom, B.S. (Ed.) (1956) Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of
educational goals: Handbook I, cognitive domain. New York ; Toronto: Longmans, Green.
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Competence
Knowledge
Comprehension
Application
Skills Demonstrated
observation and recall of information
knowledge of dates, events, places
knowledge of major ideas
mastery of subject matter
Question Cues:
list, define, tell, describe, identify, show, label, collect, examine, tabulate, quote,
name, who, when, where, etc.
understanding information
grasp meaning
translate knowledge into new context
interpret facts, compare, contrast
order, group, infer causes
predict consequences
Question Cues:
summarize, describe, interpret, contrast, predict, associate, distinguish,
estimate, differentiate, discuss, extend
use information
use methods, concepts, theories in new situations
solve problems using required skills or knowledge
Questions Cues:
apply, demonstrate, calculate, complete, illustrate, show, solve, examine,
modify, relate, change, classify, experiment, discover
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Competence
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
Skills Demonstrated
seeing patterns
organization of parts
recognition of hidden meanings
identification of components
Question Cues:
analyze, separate, order, explain, connect, classify, arrange, divide, compare,
select, explain, infer
use old ideas to create new ones
generalize from given facts
relate knowledge from several areas
predict, draw conclusions
Question Cues:
combine, integrate, modify, rearrange, substitute, plan, create, design, invent,
what if?, compose, formulate, prepare, generalize, rewrite
compare and discriminate between ideas
assess value of theories, presentations
make choices based on reasoned argument
verify value of evidence
recognize subjectivity
Question Cues:
assess, decide, rank, grade, test, measure, recommend, convince, select,
judge, explain, discriminate, support, conclude, compare, summarize
Classroom Assessment
Techniques
Some examples
Preconception Check
• Initial course activity
• Assesses students’ prior knowledge
– What is correct
– What is a misconception
• Improves chances of learning new
material correctly and integrating it into
knowledge
Preconception Check
• Example
– Ask three questions
• Which country has the highest growth rate?
• How long has it been growing at that rate?
• What improvements have been made to living conditions
in that time?
– Shuffle and return to students as basis for
discussion
– Ask from where the answers originated and
follow-up with a subjective question that
incorporates student’s experience (i.e.
would you want to live in that country).
Empty Outline
• Discover how well students have understood the
important points of a lecture, reading, or
presentation
• Good for courses with a large amount of content
presented in a structured manner
• Use at conclusion of class or beginning of the
next one.
• Encourages students to pay attention and track
progression of information
• Helps instructor to refine teaching method and
how to begin follow-up discussions/activities
Empty Outline
• Example
– Distribute only main topic headings of your
class outline
– Ask students to fill in subheadings using their
class notes
– Assess for what is missing or misplaced
Outline
• AS-curve
– The classical
– The Keynesian AS-curve
•• The
The price
price adjustment
adjustment mechanism
mechanism
– Frictional unemployment
– The quantity theory of money
•• The
The AD-AS
AD-AS framework
framework
– The effects of shifts in aggregate demand
– Supply-side economics
– Dynamic scoring
•• Long-run
Long-run shifts
shifts in
in aggregate
aggregate demand
demand and
and supply
supply
One-Minute Paper
• Most often used
• Stop class five minutes early to ask
assessment questions
• Manageable amounts of timely feedback on
how well students are learning
• Assesses more than recall
– Evaluate what they recall
– Self-assess to come up with a question
• Useful after lecture, seminar, labs, study
groups, presentation, exam
• Quick and well suited for large classes
One-Minute Paper
• Example
– What was the most important thing you
learned during this class?
– What important question remains
unanswered?
Concept Maps
• Concept maps are tools for organizing and
representing knowledge
• Using models of from the course, students
will work individually or in teams (two
students) to prepare a diagram that integrates
aspects of concepts presented
• Templates available online (VUE project)
• Alternative to written summary or assessment
of ideas presented
Concept Maps
• Example:
– Using the information from the lecture and
text readings, develop a map that
represents the connections and
relationships surrounding Anti-trust Policy
•
•
•
•
•
•
Begin with a list of all relevant topics
Separate topics for similarities and contrasts
Link together relationships and contrasts
Present in a graphic form of your choosing
Students evaluate all maps
Grade based on number and correctness of
links
Map 2
Map 3
American
Tobacco
Company
Sugar
Standard Oil
Market Definitions
Guidelines
Copper Trusts
Horizontal
Competitive Effects
Follows
Coal
Abuse of
power
International
Anti Trust
Enforcement
Assistance
Externalities
Creates
need for
Destructive
Competition
Consumer
Inadequate
Information
US Anti
Trust
Policy
Challenges to
Anti-trust
DuPont
Case
Counter
Types
Entry Effects
Efficiency Gains
Notify
Court Challenges
Old
decision
Section I
Per Se
Violations
Wheeler Lea
Act 1930
Enforces
Section II
Enforcement
Examines
Federal Trade
Commission 1914
Anti-competitive mergers
Strengthens
Working
conditions
Department
of Justice
Hart-Scott
Rodino Act 1976
Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890
Foundation of
Notify
Relevant
Markets
Rule of
Reason
Competitor
Balance of
Trade
Mergers
Globalization
Protects
whereas
Vertical
Conglomerate
European
Union
Protects
Exploitation of
Natural Resources
High Tech
Industries
Defense Cutbacks
Interlocking
directories
Price discrimination
Reduces Competition
Product design
Stifles Innovation
FDA
CPSC
EEOC
EPA
TVA
AMT
Optimal
Level
Public
Ownership
Electricity
Costs &
Inefficiency
Airline
Banking
FERC
focuses
Is
(Public Reg)
Increases
Degree of
Effectiveness
May lead to
TV Broadcasting
Natural gas
Celler-Kefauver
Act 1950
Electricity
FCC
State PUCs
waning
Industrial
Regulation
e.g. 1970 - 80’s
Telecommunications
Amends
Rates, cost, & profits
War
Perpetual
Monopolies
Section VII
growing
Natural Monopoly
Problems
Natural gas
Technological
Changes
is
Protects against
Telephone
Water
Post Office
Social
Regulation
Tying
contracts
MB ≥ MC
OSHA
e.g.
Outlaws
Clayton Act 1914
production
process
focuses
Public Utilities
Emerging New Technologies
e.g.
•Higher Prices
•Diminished Output
•Deteriorating Service
•Industrial Instability
•Lower Safety Standards
•Lower Prices
•Increase Output
•Benefits Economy
•Benefits Consumers
•Eliminate Bureaucratic
Inefficiencies
Deregulation
has
Controversies
Cons
Pros
Map 5
Anti-Trust
Acts
Federal Trade
Commission Act
(1914)
Sherman Act
(1890)
Allowed Courts to
Damages for
violations
Break up monopolies
into competitive firms
Theories
Heart-ScottRodino AntiTrust
Improvement
Act (1976)
Structure
Theory
Requires
Prohibit anticompetitive practices
Fine and imprison
Issue injunctions
Outlawed
Measure of
power
Expands the
powers of state
attorneys general
to institute triple
damage suites on
behalf of injured
Concentration
of assets
Joint Federal
responsibility
with US
Justice
Department
which
Collusive
price fixing
Clayton Act
(1914)
Issue cease-anddesist orders
Outlawed
Created 5 member
Federal Trade
Commission (FTC)
Tying contracts
Wheeler-Lea Act
(1938)
Investigate unfair
competitive practices
Policing deceptive
acts or practices in
commerce
FTC as independent
anti-trust agency
amended by:
through
to
CellerKefauver
Act (1950)
Reduce
competition
Made unfair &
deceptive sales
practices illegal
Own
initiative
Misrepresentation
of products
Request
of injured
firms
Block mergers
concentration
Dominant
market
positions
closed
loophole
Prohibiting firms from
obtaining physical
assets of another firm
1994
International
Anti-Trust
Enforcements Act
ratio
Sales and/or assets
of one or a few
companies in an
industry: total sales
and/or assets of
entire industry
Excessive
concentration
of market
power
Power to
Fix prices
Price inflation
Determine
which
products
come to
market and
in what
volume
Inefficiencies
in production
Decline in
competition
Sell a product
to a customer
only if
customer
bought other
products from
supplier
Anti-trust laws
enforced in other
nations?
cartels
Fixed pricing
arrangements
huge profits
meaning
Globalization
hold
must
Break up concentration
of economic power
Reduced
costs=lower
prices for
consumers
US Enforcement
Agencies to make
cooperative efforts
with foreign antitrust
officials
Concentration
inhibited by
world
markets/
powerful
global
competitors
Significant
cost
savings
Eliminate
duplications
Create other
efficiencies
negatives
Leave fewer
companies
in the
industry
Increase
concentration
Collusion of
remaining
companies
May lead to
price
increases
Concerned with
Define market and
impact
Innovation vs.
competition
Analyze
competitive effects
Assure ease of
entry into the
market
Benefits to
customers
Higher-quality
products
Lower-priced
products
and
Intellectual
monopoly power?
Mergers
Guidelines
Leads to
Can current
Anti-trust laws
deal with the
issues created
by high
technology
industries?
Or
Prevent concentration
from developing
Allowed for
Ensures
product &
process
innovation
Map 6
positives
Intellectual
properties
Corporate
size + large
market
share =
monopoly
Many
companies
same directors
conspire to
control market
High
Technologies
Seek efficient
business performance
Leads to
Acquisition of
stocks of
competing
corporations
Achieve
allocative
efficiency
Trustees exercise
control of firms as
a single company
Appropriate
market
structures
When substantially
lessens
competition to
drive competition
out of business
Interlocking directors
Promote
competition
In return
Creates a
monopoly
or
Price discrimination
Hold public hearings
Led to
Companies to
notify the FTC &
DOJ of an
intention to
merge if their
valuations
exceed specified
amounts
Sharpened,
clarified, &
elaborated
Prevent
Monopolization
Receive
certificates
Performance
Theory
Challenges
purpose
and
Sales of one
or a few
companies in
the industry
Monopolizing
Dividing up
markets
Competing
organizations
Transfer legal
title to trustees
Assure
innovation?
Investigate
expected efficiency
gained to be
passed on to
consumers
Analyze nonhorizontal mergers
which may result in
competitive
problems
Celler-Kefauver Act of 1950
Violators may be fined and
imprisoned. Parties affected
by the illegal actions may sue
for treble damages.
Consequences
Consequences
Tying contracts
Any person who does
or attempts to
monopolize trade will
be charged with a
felony.
Enforces
Acquisition of stalk of
competitors when the
outcome will be a
reduction in competition.
Price discrimination
Later
Contracts among states
And foreign nations
Are illegal if there is a
Conspiracy to hinder
Trade.
Amended by
Amended to
a misdemeanor
Forbids
Outlaws
Prohibits
Clayton Act of 1914
Enforces
Prohibits
Sherman Act of 1890
The formation of
interlocking directories.
Antitrust Policy
Interpretation Issues
Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914
Verses
Duty
Has the power
Monopoly Behavior
May issues
Cease-and-desist order
Established
May investigate unfair
competitive practices
on their own initiative
or upon request.
Responsible for
enforcing the antitrust
laws
Monopoly Structure
Wheeler-Lea Act
Made
The FTC as an
independent antitrust
agency
Unfair and deceptive
sales practices illegal
Map 7
Responsible for
Policing for
Deceptive Acts
or Practices
In Commerce
Outlawed
restrains of
trade &
Monopolization
1890
Department of Justice
& FTC
I
N
D
U
S
T
R
Y
FDA
FRB
FTC
FHLBB
FDIC
FCC
FAA
FMC
NCR
FERC
Sherman
Act
Outlaws Price Discrimination
Forbids Tying Contracts
Prohibits Interlocking Directorates
-Sharpens and Clarifies the Sherman Act
Wheeler-Lea
Act
Clayton
Act
CellerKafauver
Act
ANTITRUST LAWS
GOVERNMENT REGUALTIONS
A
G
E
N
C
I
E
S
AGENCIES
The
New
Deal
Developed and Stimulated
A depressed Economy
Amendment
To Clayton
Act to prohibit
Mergers with
Completing
Firms
Government attempt to control
Behavior of citizens, corporations
Or sub-governments
F
U
N
C
T
I
O
N
A
L
SEC
NLRB
EEOC
EPA
NHTSA
OSHA
CPSC
MSHA
A
G
E
N
C
I
E
S
Map 8
Antitrust
Policy
Trust
Effectiveness is
determined by
Sherman
Act of 1890
Outlawed
Monopolization
(Section 2)
Strict enforcement
Method of Corporate
Consolidation
In which
Governmen
t Actions
Promote Competition
Transferred
Then operated
Court
interpretations
Created need for
clarification of law
Prohibits
Limited scope and
created ambiguities
Price
Discrimination
Inhibit and
Prevent Growth of
Monopoly
Firms as
Single
Company
Tying Contracts
Acquisition of stocks
when outcome is
reduced competition
Balance of
Trade
Unfair
Competition
Produced
less output
Tradeoffs
between
different
goals
Achieve Allocative
Efficiency
Group of
Trustees
Charged
higher prices
Clayton Act
of 1914
Vs.
Legal
Title
Certificates
Laws
Designed to
Stock Owners of
Competing
Organizations
Restraints of Trade/
Commerce (Section 1)
Formation of
Interlocking
Directorates
Defense
Cutbacks
Underallocation of
resources
Behavior
Monopoly
Can be defined in terms of
Differ based on
Celler-Kefauver
Act of 1950
Closes loop with
Prohibits
Acquisition of
physical assets
Structure
Opposed by
Small Business Owners (&
Farmers,) Consumer, Labor
Unions, and Economists
Federal Trade
Commission
Act
Emerging New
Technologies
Led to creation of
Map 9
Case Studies and Simulations
• Use of real world contexts to reinforce
student learning
• Participant-centered learning
• Harvard cases and simulations
– www.hbsp.harvard.edu/educators
• MERLOT
• Capsim
Information Technology in the
Classroom
IT and Instruction
•
•
•
•
•
Learning Styles
Course Management Software
PowerPoint
Online Content
Clickers
Learning Styles
•
•
•
•
•
•
Active/Passive
Visual
Verbal
Written
Application
Individual/Teams
Using PowerPoint
• Edit publisher’s slideshows
• Keep it simple
– One font (i.e. arial)
– White background
– Black text
– Avoid sounds and complex text animation
– Do not use clip art
• Lecturer remains the center of attention
Online Content
• Economics Resources for University and College
Teaching
• MERLOT
• GlobalEdge
• Podcasts
– Radio Economics
– Gap Minder
• Visual Connections
– Worldmapper
– VUE Project
• http://newton.uor.edu/facultyfolder/gerald_groshek/
Course Management Software
• Blackboard
• Moodle
• Sakai
http://moodle.org