Mathematics and Economics:  Connections for Life

Workshop for Teachers of Math
Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12

Using the new Math and Economics curriculum funded by a generous grant from 3M, the St. Thomas Center presents an introduction/awareness workshop for middle and high school teachers of math.  Participants receive materials, training and support to successfully implement lessons from Math & Economics in the classroom.  There is no fee for the workshop; lunch and refreshments are provided.  

Whether you teach sixth grade general mathematics, eighth grade pre-algebra or high school math classes, you will find lessons that reinforce the concepts you are teaching, using economics with real-life examples for students.

To inquire about these workshops, call the St. Thomas Center at 651-962-5177

Round Table Discussion for Economics Teachers

Area high school teachers of economics hear a presentation and participate in a round table discussion of the topic.  How does theory apply to this real world situation?  How can topics such as this be incorporated into the existing economics curriculum?

There is no fee for this program.
For more information or to placed on the contact list:  call 651-962-5177 or e-mail mhseiter@stthomas.edu.

Economics Challenge

Saturday, April 17, 2004

8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

The Economics Challenge is an annual event in which students from area high schools compete as teams and as individuals by taking four short tests (15 questions each) dealing with macro, micro, global topics and applications. The tests are designed to challenge the students’ economic understanding and reasoning abilities.

The objectives of the Economics Challenge are:

1. To encourage students to study economics and related subjects
2. To give recognition to academic pursuits and achievement
3. To have a long-term influence on classroom instruction and curriculum development by indicating to teachers the concepts and skills that are most significant in the study of economics.

The purpose of the Challenge is to emphasize cooperation through team participation and to increase the visibility of economic education and recognition given to academic achievement.

The competition awards monetary prizes and trophies to the highest scoring teams, individuals and schools. Winning first and second place teams take trophies back to their schools, while students placing first through fourth in the test are awarded trophies and monetary prizes of $100, $75, $50 and $25 respectively. Every participant is a winner, receiving an Economics Challenge T-shirt, certificate of participation and lunch at the University’s Campus Square.

All high school students are eligible to enter the Challenge. No formal course in economics is required, but participants need to have a basic social studies background and an interest in economics.

The Challenge is a regional program with the winning teams from each of the participating Centers competing in a Statewide Economics Challenge Playoff.  The winning teams in the state will then compete in a National Economics Challenge.

Sample questions from tests given in previous years are available for teachers to use with their classes in preparation for the current year's Challenge. These serve as indicators of the general content and difficulty of the Challenge and help to motivate and stimulate student interest.

Teachers interested in having students participate in the 2004 Economics Challenge should submit a Preliminary Registration Form no later than February 27. 

Final Registration Forms are due by March 17.

Virtual Economics

The National Council on Economic Education’s CD-ROM, Virtual Economics, is one of the most far-reaching developments in the network’s efforts to advance economic education in the schools and continues to be a focus in our activities.

Designed for use by teachers, it is an effective tool for in-service education within easy reach of every K-12 teacher in the country. There are two parts to Virtual Economics. The Gallery is an interactive program which provides voice and visual explanations and examples of the fundamental concepts required to understand economics as well as teaching tips and grade-level appropriate instructional strategies. The Library makes available the publications and instructional materials developed by the NCEE which can be printed from the disk and duplicated for classroom use.

Supported by a National Science Association grant, a disk containing Virtual Economics is available for every school building in the US There is no charge for the 1.0 version of the disk; all that is required is a Macintosh or IBM/IBM compatible computer with a CD-ROM drive. To obtain a copy, call 651.962.5177 or e-mail mhseiter@stthomas.edu.

Graduate & Continuing Education Courses in Economics

These classes are taught by Dr. Mo Selim and offered as graduate courses in economics or continuing education courses. Students are able to earn either three semester graduate credits or three semester graduate level continuing education credits.

Teachers who register for graduate level continuing education credits receive full tuition scholarships and free materials; those registering for graduate credit receive partial tuition scholarships and free materials. With prior approval, continuing education credits may serve to meet requirements for licensure renewal and/or lane changes and may also apply as transfer credits to University of St. Thomas graduate degree programs.

Economics in the School Curriculum GREC 513 - CTED 927   This course is designed to develop a conceptual framework for meeting the RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Graduation Standard at the Middle and High School levels. It is designed to acquaint teachers with the basic conceptual tools of economics, the use of innovative instructional materials, and the opportunity to implement new methodologies in the classroom. It focuses particularly on the use of economic reasoning and economic education materials as strategies for meeting the new Minnesota graduation standards.

Economic Concepts and Problems GREC 501 - CTED 568 This course is designed to provide an analytical treatment of the development of economic institutions in the US; of the organization and functioning of the private economy; of the role of government in economic affairs; and of the impact of current economic problems and policies on the American economy.

Global Economics GREC 504 - CTED 960 This course is designed to study those aspects of economics concerned with the relationship among nations; in international trade and finance, in the special problems confronting the less-developed countries, and in the alternative economic systems adopted by various nations.