Sunday, November 29, 2009
Two-Minute Drill--Natural Monopoly
Natural Monoply Worksheet -
A natural monopoly is characterized by a broad sweeping ATC curve that reflexs high fixed costs and relatively small variable costs. In this diagram, the monopoly would charge a higher price and produce less if it were unregulated. A socially optimal price would require a subsidy but would satisfy the greatest amounts of wants especially during peak times. Regulating the monopoly at its breakeven point, might lead to wasteful spending. Clearly, regulating the monopoly at the P = MC prince is socially optimal.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and also publishes the Mikeroeconomics and iMacroeconomics VB blogs.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Two-Minute Drill--Pure Monopoly
Monopoly Worksheet -
What do your students do when you take attendance? Why not give them a review problem that reinforces content and also prepares them for the AP? This Two-Minute Drill is intended to be projected to a white board with the students able to self-check their work.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and blogs at Mikeroeconomics.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Financial Sector Test--Reffonomics
Financial Sector Part 4 -
A hearty thanks to the creators of this exam, Steven Reff and Dick Brunelle. Please visit their site.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and also publishes the Mikeroeconomics and iMacroeconomics VB blogs.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Financial Sector Test--Reffonomics
Financial Sector Part III -
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and also publishes the Mikeroeconomics and iMacroeconomics VB blogs.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Rigor-Relevance in AP Economics
Summary: Quadrant D and AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics.
How has globalization affected the way we communicate, work, and learn? Many education reformers have advanced the Rigor-Relevance Model in which Quadrant D activities relate learning to Bloom's Taxonomy, cross-curriculum, and unexpected events.
At Muscatine High School, learning the Rigor-Relevance Model has taken center stage as teaching for the 21st Century. The framework is here.
Our district has begun to include in teacher evaluations rhetoric from this model. Our district administrators want to see more "hands-on" activities used in the classroom. According to our superintendent, Mr. William Decker, 40% of classroom time is spent "coloring, watching videos, and working on worksheets."
Teaching AP Economics is a Quadrant C activity in my opinion. My evaluation for teaching this class is the pass rate of my students. My district wants me to move to Quadrant D developing lesson plans that take days to implement to make instruction relevant.
Let me be clear: I believe that the Rigor-Relevance Model is a model that describes learning and I have worked to include in my AP Economics lessons. For example, I recently showed diminishing marginal returns by using David Anderson's Links lesson plan. I also plan to use the Labels lesson plan to show the direction of trade in macroeconomics. My problem is one of benefit and cost. Should I take a week to show the Phillips Curve in AP Macroeconomics when there might be two multiple-choice questions on the AP exam?
In future blogs, I want to include Quadrant D lesson plans for other AP Economics teachers to use if their district adopts the Rigor-Relevance Model.
Iowa has adopted the Rigor-Relevance Model in their Iowa Core Curriculum. The Iowa Core includes financial literacy and technology.
Comments are welcome.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. He is an EconEdLink.org author.
Financial Sector Test--Reffonomics
Summary:
Financial Test 11-20 -
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and also publishes the Mikeroeconomics and iMacroeconomics VB blogs.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Financial Sector Test
Summary:
Reffonomics Financial Sector Test -
A sincere thanks to the authors, Dick Brunelle and Steve Reff at Reffonomics. These are the answers as I see them for the first 10 questions. The next 10 will be posted on Wednesday.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and also publishes the Mikeroeconomics and iMacroeconomics VB blogs.
Financial Sector Test--Reffonomics
Summary: My answer to the first 10 questions of the Financial Test.
Steven Reff and Dick Brunelle have written an outstanding review for AP Macroeconomics on the financial sectore. The test is here. My answers to the first 10 questions are here.
A huge thank you is extended to these gentlemen for their sedulous work in making economics accessible to our students.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He blogs at Mikeroeconomics.
See the Invisible Hand
Summary: A blog dedicated to instructors who use Modern Principles of Economics by Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok.
A recent post on the blog read, "Only in economics is a ceiling above a floor." The writers of Marginal Revolution have a gift for teaching economics. See The Invisible Hand is meant to help instructors teaching principles of economics.
This is truly a fresh approach to teaching economics. This is the only introductory book that teaches the Solow Growth Model and Dynamic AD/AS equilibrium. The problems are challenging and fun.
See your Worth representative for an exam copy. You can preview a chapter here.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and blogs at Mikeroeconomics.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Watch Unemployment Grow
Summary: A graphic for AP Macroeconomics to show the growth of unemployment.
Click here. HT to Marginal Revolution.About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
EconEdLink--Focus on Unemployment Data
Summary: A lesson for using unemployment statistics in AP Macroeconomics.
A lesson plan for integrating unemployment data in the AP Macroeconomics classroom is here.
EconEdLink lessons are a premier source of classroom tested, Internet-based economic lesson materials for K-12 teachers and their students. The lesson plans go through a brutal review process that ensures accuate economic content.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and blogs at Mikeroeconomics.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Exam Questions of the Week
Summary: Jason Welker's AP and IB exam questions of the week to prepare students for critical thinking.
IB Question of the week: Unit 4 – International Economics
Explain why a country’s large current account deficit puts downward pressure on its exchange rate and and why this may be inflationary for the country.
AP Question of the week: Unit 2.2 – Elasticities
Assume that hamburgers and french fries are complementary goods. The government decides to begin taxing the production of beef, an input in the production of hamburgers.
For each of the following markets, draw a supply and demand diagram showing the effect of a tax on beef producers. The beef market. The hamburger market. The French fry market. Assume that the demand for hamburgers inelastic in the short-run. How will the tax on beef affect the revenues of hamburger producers?
In the long-run demand for hamburgers is elastic. Explain why this may be.
These questions are from Jason Welker's Blog. Visit and become a Diigo member to share your questions and research. I believe that writing leads to learning.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, IA. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and blogs at Mikeroeconomics.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Per Unit Tax for AP Microeconomics
Summary: A per-unit tax is a variable cost that shifts the marginal cost to the left.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and blogs at Mikeroeconomics.
Fed Chairman Game
Summary: A game to help your students review monetary policy.
HT to David Mayer for this game.
Students will learn faster and recall information quicker if immediate knowledge or results are used to reinforce learning. With this game, students see the results of their decisions and can make relations among monetary policy, price level, and employment.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa.
FRED Widget
Summary: A free widget from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank allows you to see default FRED graphs on your blog or home page.
This is a must have Google widget for AP Macroeconomics teachers. I installed the widget in less than 30 seconds on my iGoogle home page. Now I can get updates every time I use my computer to check my Gmail. This widget is here. You will thank me later.
Using the FRED data base will confirm the economic theory you teach. If you are an instructor who is using the rigor/relevance model, this is Quadrant D work. The FRED is real life and unexpected. The FRED is cross curriculum. Using the FRED requires analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
If you are interested in how I used the FRED to derive the natural rate of unemployment, I will send you a PowerPoint and an email attachment with the step-by-step instructions. I also have a YouTube video here. I encourage you to make and share a FRED lesson for the insight you will gain about economics.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and blogs at Mikeroeconomics. He also likes the FRED data base.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Financial Sector Questions for AP Macroeconomics
Summary: Dick Brunelle has written 40 questions on the financial sector for AP Macroeconomics teachers.
The questions are here.
The questions are professionally written and reflect accurately what is taught in AP Macroeconomic textbooks. My answers will appear shortly. I welcome other reviews.
Macroeconomics requires equilibrium in the goods market, the labor market, and the financial markets. Introductory textbooks use AD/AS to show equilibrium in all of these markets. These questions tie together all of the markets to make equilibrium in the AD/AS model clear.
If you are looking for a source of interactive AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics preparation, try going to Mr. Brunelle's website.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. Currently, Mr. Fladlien is exploring flash animation to teach graphing economic concepts.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Quick Macroeconomic Statistics
Summary: AmosWEB aggregates statistics for easy reference.
AmosWEB means Economics with a Touch of Whimsy! This quote from The State of The Economy page. Here you will find all of the statistics to confirm theory or build a discussion.The site also contains a glossary and a dictionary of economic terms that I find outstanding. Often, Flash animation is used to illustrate the economic concepts.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
5E Educator for AP Macroeconomics
Summary: The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond provides free lesson plans for teachers of AP Economics.
"This electronic newsletter for K-12 educators is designed to provide teachers with economics content, lesson plans and updates on free resources available from the Federal Reserve System." This quote is from the publications tab here.
The Fall 2009 issue contains articles that examine the costs and benefits associated with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Cap and Trade policies. You will also find active lessons to teach your students about the issues.
The Spring 2009 issue examines the battle between Andrew Jackson and Nicholas Biddle, the head of the Second Bank of the United States. Learn how Jackson was finally able to kill the Bank, and pick up great ideas for teaching your students about the issues that have confronted U.S. central banking.
The Winter issue features new research that examines the relationship between your ability to resist dessert and your savings behavior. You’ll also find engaging lesson plans and resources presented in the newsletter. The author has posted a video on the same subject here.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. He is an EconEdLink.org author and blogs at Mikeroeconomics. Currently, Mr. Fladlien is writing a lesson plan on the Phillips Curve.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Lump Sum Subsidy
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. Recently, his EconEdLink lesson, Okun's Law, was available for download.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Interactive Flash Animation for AP Macroeconomics
Summary: An excellent interactive graph for aggregate demand and aggregate supply.
Research on learning shows that feedback, or knowledge of results, should be immediate to maximize learning. What a better way to give immediate knowledge of results than to use flash animation. ThinkEconomics has made an interactive lesson for the AD/AS model. The link is here.
ThinkEconomics also has interactives for Supply and Demand, LRATC, Profit Maximization, and policy tools.
Students learn by doing. In other words, using "hands-on" activities. If you are a member of the Successful Practices Network and a Bill Daggett fan, these activities fall into Quadrant D. Quad D means that both high level thinking skills and real-life relevance are embedded in the lesson.
What other sites use Flash animation and interactives to teach? I am beginning to believe that textbooks are becoming a secondary resource.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. Recently, his lesson on Okun's Law was posted on EconEdLink.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
YouTube Videos for AP Economics
Summary: 60-second videos for AP Economics review.
Mr. Jacob Clifford is an AP Economics teacher and College Board Consultant in San Diego California. His videos to review AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics are here. These high-quality videos will help your students review materials in a flash and aid in make up.
My opinion is that more and more instruction is digital. I see more hand held devices used to deliver content to students faster. These videos will help you meet the diverse needs of students who work a job, participate in extracurricular activities, and take multiple AP classes.
I welcome more links to digital learning in the comment section.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. He is an EconEdLink.org author and blogs at Mikeroeconomics.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
AP Released Exams
Summary: Links to the 2005 AP Macro and AP Microeconomics released exams.
The AP Macroeconomics exam is here.
The AP Microeconomics exam is here.
About every five years, the College Board releases the exam used to access students of AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. These tests are wonderful. I bought a packet of 10 and begin the third day of class showing students the questions and a thinking process to answer the question.
Make sure to study the Acorn book to see if the current standards match those on the released exam. There's been discussion in microeconomics that game theory will have more than a dominate equilibrium.
Free AP Macroeconomic and AP Microeconomic exams are here. You'll have to register and use your user name and password that you used when submitting your syllabi.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Great Depression
Summary: The St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank has a curriculum for teaching the great depression.
The picture is from the high school curriculum for teaching about the depression of 1929-1939. The materials are available for immediate classroom use on the St. Louis Fed Website.About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa.
iPod App for AP Microeconomics
Summary: An economics review for iPods and iPhones. Naked self-promotion.
This app is available for download on iTunes. I intended this to aid students in preparing for tests in microeconomics. It's a comprehensive review of 80% of the concepts covered in a micro class.I believe that students today want to learn using today's technology. Today's technology is iPods, Smart Boards, audience response systems, flash animation and more. When I developed this app, I developed it for the on-the-go student who values appearance too. The student I envisioned was one who had a challenging schedule and one or more after school activities. They will carry an iPod with them, but not a five pound textbook. The student I envisioned was one who studied in "micro sessions" of 10 or 15 minutes. The touch was a natural tool for these students.
When testing the beta version of this app, I found myself asking many questions about the theory, the content, and the philosophy of the question. If the app does anything, it will generate class discussion.
About the Author: Mike Fladlien is an AP Economics teacher from Muscatine High School in Muscatine, Iowa. He is an EconEdLink.org author, and blogs at Mikeroeconomics. When he reads the Sunday newspaper, he reads the comics first.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
