Department of Economics

The University of Akron

3250:244-002 Introduction to Economic Analysis (80092) – A Web Based Course

Class homepage is on Springboard – go to http://springboard.uakron.edu/

Fall 2009

 

 

Dr. Steven C. Myers

myers@uakron.edu

 

Teaching Assistant:  Matt Carr, mbc23@uakron.edu

Table of Contents

1.        Instructional Days

2.        Self-paced, self-disciplined Design

v       Completion Schedule

3.        Introduction

4.        Textbook and Course Support

v       To purchase the physical text

v       To rent a copy on-line

5.        Modular Design

6.        Module Map – Which Chapters are covered?

7.        Grading Policy

v       Module 1

v       Modules 2-15

v       Modules 7A and 14A

8.        A Mastery-Based Course Design

v       “Rules of the Game”

v       Acceptable progress

v       Unacceptable progress

v       Is advance Automatic or Manual?

9.        Academic Honor - Important

10.     Computer Requirements

11.     Communication Requirements

12.     How To Raise Questions Of A General Nature

v       Contacting Dr. Myers when you think your question is of general interest.

v       Contact fellow students when you think your question is of general interest.

13.     Contacting Dr. Myers OFFLINE (Asynchronously)

14.     Contacting Dr. Myers ONLINE (Synchronously)

Introduction to Economic Analysis

 

Instructional Days

 

First day of access to course:  Monday August 24, 2009

Last day to drop without instructor’s signature:  October 16, 2009.  Check with your advisor.

Last day to get full credit for the first writing assignment: November 9, 2009 11:59 pm.

Last day to withdraw with signature of adviser and instructor:  Nov. 13, 2009.  Check with your advisor.

Last day to get full credit for the second writing assignment:  Sunday Dec 6 2009, 11:59 pm.

Last day to access the course: December 12, 2009, 11:59 pm.

Grades recorded:  on or before Tuesday December 15, 2009.

Extensions of time:  On an individual basis – see next section and contact Dr. Myers early.   (return to top)

 

While it will be easy for you to think that your professor is available 24/7, this is not true.  There are some days that professor’s time will be extremely limited which will be announced to you.  I will generally be online daily to check your progress when possible.  Nevertheless, a 48 hour response from the professor will be considered timely.   (return to top)

 

Self-paced, self-disciplined Design

 

It is impossible to complete this course in a few weeks! Students’ report that this course is as much or in some cases much more work than a regular face to face course.  We will cover approximately the entire book.  Therefore, don’t expect to successfully finish the class if you wait until the last weeks of the term to start.  Also, keep in mind that the College of Arts and Sciences will not permit me to give you an incomplete for the course “if you have not completed most of the course.”  In light of this policy I will not even entertain a proposal for an incomplete for this course if you have not completed most of the modules before the last day to withdraw and you must have a passing average at that point.  (return to top)

 

Completion Schedule

 

While a comfortable rate of progress is to complete just over one modules per week, you may accelerate that pace at your own choosing.  However, do not underestimate the time requirements for this distance learning class.   I strongly recommend that you complete both modules 1 and module 2 in the first week and complete module 3 by the beginning of the second week.  Once you have completed reading the module introduction, the chapters and PowerPoint lessons, you may take the quiz at the end of that module.  At anytime you may contact the professor or other students and may through the use of discussions and online chats discuss concepts with anyone.

  (return to top)

 

While it will be easy for you to think that your professor is available 24/7, this is not true.  There are some days that professor’s time will be extremely limited which will be announced to you.  I will generally be online daily to check your progress when possible, but there can be up to a two days wait between modules at times.  If you haven’t been advanced to the next module within 48 hours please email the professor.

 

Introduction

Welcome to Economic Analysis. In this class we will focus both on macroeconomics and microeconomics.  This is a web-based course with no required face-to-face meetings.  All contact between professor and students are via the computer.

You will be able to work at your own pace and you must manage your time accordingly.  The design of this course is for you to achieve mastery over the various competencies and not to be graded as in more traditional courses.  The expectation is that everyone has the opportunity to earn an A in the course by the ability to succeed in each of the modules before moving on.  You can think of the design of this course as learn, test, relearn, re-test. 

Past student reviews of this course are online at http://gozips.uakron.edu/~myers/online.   You will discover your fellow students have cautioned you not to underestimate the amount of work in this course.  You need to set a plan do at least two chapters a week.  (return to top)

Textbook and Course Support

 

The text book is not necessary to complete Module 1, so do not defer that module while waiting to secure the textbook.  Modules 2 through 15 are based on the textbook.

 

The textbook for this course is by Michael Parkin, Economics 8th edition with MyEconLab Student Access Kit, Addison-Wesley Publishing; ISBN: # 0-3-2142300-3 (2008).  Note that if you get a used book, you may buy online access to MyEconLab.com.  You may not use the 7th edition or the newer 9th edition as chapter line ups have changed and the testing is geared to the 8th edition.

 

You have choices.

  1. Buy a new textbook with MyEconLab which also includes the eText.
  2. Do not buy a physical textbook and buy only MyEconLab with eText.
  3. Buy a used textbook and buy access to MyEconLab with or without eText.
  4. Buy a used textbook and ignore MyEconLab.

 

To purchase the physical text

If you want a physical copy you can find it at the University Bookstore (http://uakron.bncollege.com)  or another supplier.  You must get a new copy to be assured to have free access to the MyEconLab online website.  If you buy a used copy you will need to also pay for online access if you want MyEconLab or the eText.  Click here for the Amazon.com link for Parkin 8th.  At the time of this writing Amazon was cheaper than the bookstore.  [full link - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0321423003?ie=UTF8&tag=teachingand05-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0321423003]

 

When I checked, UA Bookstore $195.35 new ($146.50 used), Amazon $172.59 for new (used from $54).  MyEconLab is free with a new text and $50.00 to add on to a used text.  MyEconLab with eText is $90.  (I am not responsible for the prices, so I can only quote what I saw online.)

 

To rent a copy on-line

Go to http://www.myeconlab.com to access your online support resource.  Press Register / Students.  Then on the next page answer “no”, Parkin, Economics 8e and choose to register your access with a access kit / code or purchase access.  If you purchase access you will be taken to a page that will allow you to buy access to MyEconLab without the full eText for $50 or MyEconLab with the full eText for $90. 

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Modular Design

 

q       The course is organized into modules.  They must be completed in order and you must master each one before being permitted to move forward.  You will be advanced on the basis of filling out a Required Learning Assessment which is always the last link in each content module (except for the two writing assignments).

q       Each module (2 to 15) includes various files of helpful material to help you learn the material of the chapters.

o        These include for each chapter a lecture outline, a PowerPoint presentation and a set of thinking questions (including answers).

o        At the end of each module is the quiz of 10 questions based on the learning objectives for each chapter.

o        After you take the quiz (up to three times or until you get a 10) you must complete a learning assessment.

o        After completing the learning assessment you may proceed to the next module.

 

Note the graphics quiz in Module 2 and the preassessments in Module 1 are not counted in your grades.  They are there to provide an assessment of your skills before proceeding.  (return to top)

 

Module Map – Which Chapters are covered?

 

In the following table “Parkin 8e” refers to the one volume book Economics, while “Micro or Macro” refers to the separate books (also by Parkin) called Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

 

Module Number

Number

of quizzes 

Number of Chapters

(30 in total)

points

Parkin 8e Chapter Number

 

Micro or Macro Split Text Chapter Number

 

1

0

0

 

NA

 

 

 

2

2

2

10

1-2 (inc 1A)

 

Micro 1-2

 

3

1

2

10

3-4

 

Micro 3-4

 

4

1

2

10

5-6

 

Micro 5-6

 

5

1

2

10

7-8 (not 8A)

 

Micro 7-8

 

6

1

2

10

9-10

 

Micro 9-10

 

7

1

2

10

11-12

 

Micro 11-12

 

7A

First Writing Assignment

essay

 

10

 

 

 

 

8

1

2

10

13-14

 

Micro 13-14

 

9

1

2

10

15-16

 

Micro 15-16

 

10

1

3

10

17,18,19 (inc 17A)

 

Micro 17, 18, 19

 

11

1

2

10

20-21

 

Macro 4-5

 

12

1

3

10

22-23

 

Macro 6-7

 

13

1

2

10

24-25

 

Macro 8-9

 

14

1

2

10

27 & 29

 

Macro 11 & 13

 

14A

Second Writing Assignment

essay

 

10

 

 

 

 

15

1

2

10

30-31

 

Macro 14-15

 

16 Final Evaluations

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grading Policy

 

The final grade in the course will be based on the following:

The percentage grade is calculated as the sum of your points divided by the total amount possible of 170 points.  Grade Scale will be A for 92-100 percent, A- for 90-91, B+ for 78-79, B for 82-87, C+ for 78-79, C for 72-77, C- for 70-71, D+ for 68-69, D for 62-67, D- for 60-61, F below 60 percent.  The class is not competitive with the other students and all will make the grade for which they are qualified.

With 5000-6000 questions in the test bank some figures and graphs may be missing or incorrect.  There is an opportunity to receive compensation for errors in the text bank based on the policy at http://gozips.uakron.edu/~myers/FAQ/What_if_missing_graph.htm.  This is the only extra points possible in the course and is available only to those who are allowed to enter the evaluation module.   (return to top)

Module 1

 

… is an introductory module and contains much of the orientation of the course including a variety of pre-assessments.

 

Modules 2-15

 

… each may contain the following parts:

Modules 7A and 14A

 

·         These are both writing assignments.  The first should be answerable based on only the text and support materials in the course.  The second will require you to do some internet research to collect information on the economy and to write an assessment of the current state of the national and state economy and its influence on the local economy.

 (return to top)

A Mastery-Based Course Design

“Rules of the Game”

 

Each module quiz will consist of 10 questions randomly drawn from the test bank within each learning objective announced for each chapter.  You will have 15 minutes to complete the quiz and should wait at least one hour before you may take another quiz. [Note:  Springboard makes it impossible to enforce a one hour delay between the attempts.] The time is so that you will review your past quiz and discover your mistakes and correct them by studying before taking the next attempt.  You are on your honor to review before just starting the next attempt.  If you ask for assistance and you have taken all three quizzes back to back without delay in between each attempt you should expect less sympathy and less help as you are telegraphing your lack of seriousness.  In other words, if you do not score well on one attempt, what makes you think if you take it two more times without studying your mistakes that you will score higher?    (return to top)

 

Acceptable progress 

 

The goal is that you reach mastery over the competencies in the material before you move on.  A student who makes a perfect score (10) on a module quiz and completes the module evaluation will be permitted to begin the next module.  [In Springboard this is NOT automatic]  Students who don’t attain a perfect score on the first module quiz will have two additional attempts to do so.  After the third attempt, if you have scored at least a score of 8, you will be permitted to begin the next module and the best score you received in any of the quizzes will be recorded as your grade. [Moving you forward after your three attempts can not be programmed in to Springboard and has to be done by me.]  You will be well advised to study the material again especially in the areas you have missed before your second or third attempts.   (return to top)

 

Unacceptable progress

 

Any student who receives a final score of 7 out of 10 for a module quiz will receive a warning.  If you earn a score of 6 or less, you will receive a notice from Dr. Myers (or his assistant) requesting an online or face-to-face meeting.  You will not be permitted to continue in the course without that meeting and a successful resolution of the problem that led to the score of 6 or less.  In short, do what is necessary to avoid that score.  (Note:  A 6 of 10 is commiserate with a letter grade of D- and, therefore, indicates un-acceptable progress requiring intervention.)  (return to top)

 

Is advance Automatic or Manual?

 

Springboard is a great course management system, but it is not up to the design of this course.  All advancement after you complete a module is done by Dr. Myers or his teaching assistant if available and can take up to 48 hours.  We only advance based on our receiving and reading your end of module learning assessment.  If you are even in doubt that something isn’t working for you, just contact me.    (return to top)

 

Academic Honor - Important

 

Taking the quizzes for this course is NOT a “team” activity.  The work should be entirely on your own and not done in consultation with classmates or others.  Any violation of this policy including reference to any student work past or present will result in the grade of “F” for the course.  You should be aware that Springboard tracks all activity that takes place within the program including which IP address you are using.  (return to top)

 

Computer Requirements

In order to fully participate in the course, you need to have the following:

  1. Each student must acquire a UAnet id (https://gozips.uakron.edu/zid/user.html).  Every student should already have this.  This link will redirect you to a new application, but with the changes of the student email system, this link may not work for you.  I would appreciate your feedback on the usefulness of this link.
  2. Each student will need to be familiar with Internet Explorer to access this course and other resources.  Students may also use other browsers, but some pages might not resolve in browsers other than Internet Explorer.  You will have to turn off all popup blockers if some material does not present itself.  See help in Springboard for problems here.  In particular the springboard folks say you are not to use Internet Explorer v.8. 
  3. Students must use Webmail or Zipline http://zipline.uakron.edu or forward their UAnet ID to an e-mail address they read often.  Go here (https://gozips.uakron.edu/zid/user.html) and choose ‘email management’ to forward your email (again this link may be less useful with the new student email system). The new Google Apps Student E-Mail System is supported at http://support.uakron.edu/wiki/index.php/Webmail
  4. Interested students can seek help for off-campus use in the basement of the library at the Technology Learning Support Center.  Their phone numbers is (330) 972-6888, or email them at tlsc@uakron.edu.  Hours are on the page listed in the next link.
  5. The best URL for help is ZipSupport at  http://www.uakron.edu/its/hoss/helpdesk/index.php and the best link on that page is to the wiki at http://support.uakron.edu/.
  6. Students are required to use the class homepage at http://springboard.uakron.edu.  Specific help might be found by emailing springboardhelp@uakron.edu.
  7. Other information of interest to you in that support page includes getting roadrunner (OBEN) for high-speed access.  Help in using the university library including full text access from home is here http://www.uakron.edu/libraries/     (return to top)

Communication Requirements

(1)     You must regularly read your UAnet email or have it forwarded to your preferred email account.  See some of the links above or go to my online page http://gozips.uakron.edu/~myers/online.  If I communicate to your UAnet email account I will assume you have read it within two days.  There is no exception to this.

(2)     IMPORTANT – much may be different with the move this semester to the Google Apps Student E-Mail System (see http://support.uakron.edu/wiki/index.php/Webmail)

(3)     We will be using the communication features of Springboard extensively in this class.  I will respond to any email address you use, but when I am mailing to you I will either email internally in Springboard (less likely) or to your UAnet address (most likely) only. 

(4)     You might consider whether your alternate email address is suitably professional in nature, for example fun_guy@somewhere.com does not create as good impression as first.lastname@somewhere.com.  In other words, keep your ‘play names’ private.

(5)     On that last point you may also understand that things posted to your Facebook and other social pages are permanent and may seriously affect your ability to get a job.

(6)     An excellent professional social site is http://linkedin.com.

(7)     We may also use the threaded discussion and chat functions in Springboard, so make sure you are familiar with them.

(8)     From time to time virtual office hours may be held via Elluminate.  An email to the entire class will announce the url or link needed to participate.  You will need speakers or a headset.  A mic and cam are optional and likely not needed. When you log on do so by your name and your UAnetID, e.g., if you are Tom and have the UAnetID is twh12 then use the logon as “Tom (twh12)”   (return to top)

How To Raise Questions Of A General Nature

 

Contacting Dr. Myers when you think your question is of general interest.

Use the discussion section of Springboard.  Be careful to select a useful and helpful title for your discussion since these will stay in everyone’s discussion list for the entire term.

 

Contact fellow students when you think your question is of general interest.

The discussion section of Springboard is a great place to start conversations with other student.  You may email other students as well within Springboard.  (return to top)

 

Contacting Dr. Myers OFFLINE (Asynchronously)

 

Contacting Dr. Myers ONLINE (Synchronously)