Current newsletter
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Economics UPDATE
The monthly Economics Network Email Newsletter
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22 July 2010
Welcome to UPDATE the Economics Network Email Newsletter. This newsletter is intended to inform Economics Network subscribers about our activities and to provide other information that may be of interest.
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NOTICEBOARD
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Forthcoming Events
Annual Key Contacts Conference
Bristol, Wednesday 8 September
The Economics Networks has established a network of Key Contacts throughout UK Higher Education Institutions. This event will explore current issues in teaching and learning in economics and will give Key Contacts the opportunity to inform the national strategy for supporting economics education. Further details (including a programme) are available at:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/contact/keycontacts
National Workshop: eLearning Symposium
Bristol, Thursday 9 September
This event will present a range of the latest technologies suitable for supporting economics teaching and research. There will be plenty of hands-on opportunities to try out technologies as well as workshop sessions including case studies and demonstrations. Further details (including a programme) are available at:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/events/elearning
We have also finalised our programme of workshops for Economics New Lecturers and Postgraduate Teaching Assistants/Tutors
Residential Workshop for New Economics Lecturers
Bristol, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 October
The aim of the new lecturer workshop is to discuss and evaluate what makes effective teaching of economics, including lectures; seminars and small-group teaching; assessment and feedback; e-learning; module/unit design; classroom experiments and games. There will also be time at the end of the workshop to reflect on key issues and to plan next steps. Further details are available at:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/events/newlecs
Economics Postgraduate Teaching Assistants/Tutors Workshops
Queen Mary, London, Thursday 16 September
Cardiff, Friday 24 September
London School of Economics, Monday 27 September
University of East Anglia, Wed 29 September
Nottingham University, Wednesday 6 October
University of Sheffield, Thursday 7 October
Edinburgh, Thursday 7 October
Lancaster University, Friday 8 October
The aim is to discuss and evaluate what makes a good small-group session: including managing student expectations; student learning styles; different seminar types; dealing with diversity; marking and feedback. There will also be time at the end of the workshop to reflect on key issues and to plan next steps. Participants receive a certificate of attendance. These workshops are just one of the ways we support teaching assistants. Further details are available at:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/events/gta
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WHAT'S NEW
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Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) Builder
Would you like to take part in an exciting teaching and learning project by trialling a new resource with your students?
‘Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) Builder’ is an electronic web-based interactive teaching and learning resource, which can be used by students to aid in their understanding of cost benefit analysis, including: how it works, how to construct a cost benefit analysis, applying values to costs and benefits, how to perform discounting, and the limitations of CBA. The main objectives of the project are to:
*Create a free to use web-based resource for teaching and learning of CBA.
*Create an interactive resource which provides (i) an in-depth online CBA textbook; (ii) a range of flash examples; (iii) the ability to create your own simple and advanced CBA; (iv) downloadable exercises and worksheets, and; (v) links to useful texts, academic journal papers, and websites.
*Create a resource which can be used in formative and summative assessment.
*Improve student engagement with CBA through new methods of teaching and learning.
*Improve student employability through improved knowledge of a common method of project appraisal used in both the public and private sector.
Expenses will be offered for the organisation and running of a trial session with students within your University. If you would be interested in trialling the CBA Builder resource in the Autumn term 2010, please contact Dr Dan Wheatley, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Nottingham Trent University, at daniel.wheatley2@ntu.ac.uk.
