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Methods of Teaching Economics

Methods of Teaching Economics . Lecture 1. General Strategies. Do not read your notes Very mechanical; students know Prepare yourself mentally for class Come early and prepare your thoughts, listen to relaxing music, etc. . Opening a Lecture. Avoid a “cold start”

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Methods of Teaching Economics

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  1. Methods of Teaching Economics Lecture 1

  2. General Strategies • Do not read your notes • Very mechanical; students know • Prepare yourself mentally for class • Come early and prepare your thoughts, listen to relaxing music, etc.

  3. Opening a Lecture • Avoid a “cold start” • Talk to students informally before class, etc. • Helps keep the voice (tone) conversional • Minimize nervousness • Nervousness is normal • Use relaxing techniques to keep your mind calm • As you get experience, this goes away

  4. Opening a Lecture • Grab students’ attention • Provocative question • Startling statement • Unusual analogy • Striking example • Personal anecdote • Dramatic contrast • Powerful quote • Short questionnaire • Demonstration

  5. An Example • The world is full of contradictions! • Mikhail Gorbachev is still a communist. • Why does he live in California? • Isn’t the U.S.A. a symbol of capitalism? • Does he have an agenda?

  6. Opening a Lecture • Vary your opening! • Prevents the opening from becoming stale! • List the Objectives for the course • Lets students know what you are planning • Establish rapport with your students • Warmth and rapport has positive affect on students

  7. Capturing Students’ Interest • Keep an eye on students • Do the students look confuse? • Try another example • Are you boring your students • Maintain eye contact • Students know you are paying attention to them • But don’t stare for long periods of time!

  8. Capturing Students’ Interest • Vary your lectures • Students need to pay attention to learn • Students lose attention about 10 minutes of listening • Ask questions • Play the devil’s advocate • Look at the other side of the issue • Use visual aids • Slides, graphs, charts, video, etc.

  9. Capturing Students’ Interest • Explicitly organize your lectures • Use an outline • The form of this lecture • Students can easily catch up, if their attention wanes

  10. Capturing Students’ Interest • Be enthusiastic about the material • Use facial expressions • Students know if you are bored or do not like your subject • If you are bored with the subject, then why should students be excited about it? • I had several very boring professors

  11. Capturing Students’ Interest • Be conversational • Use informal language • Colorful language, expressive adjective, use first or second person (I, we, and you) • Be direct • Be natural

  12. Capturing Students’ Interest • Use anecdotes • Anecdote is a short story • Anecdotes help break up monotony • Students pay better attention • Can use for key points

  13. Capturing Students’ Interest • Move around the room • Keeps students’ interest • Breaks up monotony • Can use gestures

  14. Capturing Students’ Interest • Laugh at yourself when you make a mistake • Drop notes, mis-pronounce words, etc. • Helps keep students at ease

  15. Capturing Students’ Interest • Keep track of time • If time is running out, don’t speed up the lecture up to finish • Most professors do this; even me!

  16. Mastering Delivery Techniques • Vary your speaking pace • If you go too slow, then students become bored! • Vary your voice • Pitch • Volume • Duration of words • Intonation • Intensity of your voice • Lawyers do this!

  17. Mastering Delivery Techniques • Use pauses • Used as punctuation • To mark a thought, sentence, or paragraph • Add emphasis, before or after a key idea • Take a sip of water or coffee after discussing an important idea

  18. Mastering Delivery Techniques • Avoid saying • "um" • "well" • "you know" • "OK" • "so" • Watch yourself on video tape • Silent pauses are more effective

  19. Mastering Delivery Techniques • Breathe normally • Normal breathing prevents vocal strain that affects the pitch and quality of your speech • Keep your shoulders, neck, and jaw relaxed • Keep your eyes fully open

  20. Closing a Lecture • End with a conclusion • Students know the lecture had a purpose • They have closure • End with a thought provoking problem or question • Avoid “I almost forgot.”

  21. Closing a Lecture • Keep your voice strong • Lift your chin up • Keep your eyes facing the audience. • Be sure to stay after class for a few minutes to answer students' questions.

  22. Improving Your Lectures • Assess how the lecture went and which parts need improvement • Record your lecture • Watch yourself on video tape • Watch for good and bad traits and mannerisms • Talk to a speech consultant

  23. Economics Instructors I violated most of these suggestions. • The best suggestion is to pick a good professor and emulate him or her.

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