GDP and Pizza

Summary: Online learning module.

When the economy dips into a recession, unemployment increases and tax revenues fall. Public schools base their budgets on projected tax revenues. In Iowa public schools are faced with across the board budget cuts and staff reduction through attrition and reduction in force. Public school teachers have been forced to do without vital learning tools such as textbooks. This semester, I have been experimenting with online teaching. One resource I found, is provided by the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank.

This online module, GDP and Pizza, promises to replace the 30 plus textbook pages of reading from my textbook authored by Paul Krugman and Robin Wells. I am excited about using online content because I think students interact with the data and often click on related links that they find relevant.

This is just one online learning module. I want to find as many as possible, such as the ones found at the Powell Center for Economic Literacy.

I also want to find content that is delivered directly to a cell phone such as the one Jason Welker provides.

Teaching AP Macroeconomics is theoretical and requires a disciplined student. I believe if we work together, we can compile online learning tools that deliver content and value.

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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.