23 January 2006

Longwood trains teachers to close the economics knowledge gap

According to a recent Harris poll, there is a wide gap between what Americans know about economics and what the Standards of Learning recommends that they know.  The 2005 poll, conducted by Harris Interactive, revealed that an overwhelming majority of Americans feel economic education is important.  A test of the most basic economic concepts shows, however, that Americans have very little knowledge in this area.  Virginia’s schools are required to teach a great deal of economic content as part of the Standards of Learning.  Unfortunately, teachers often reveal that they are ill-prepared to address economics in the classroom. 

The Longwood Center for Economic Education (LCEE) is working to close this knowledge gap and provide Virginia’s children with the best possible education. Housed in Longwood University’s College of Business and Economics, the LCEE offers a variety of teacher training programs aimed at helping educators master vital economic content and effective techniques for making economics come alive in the classroom.  Training opportunities include daylong workshops, intensive summer institutes, school in-service programs, and programs delivered at local, state, and national education conferences. 

According to Dr. Melanie Marks, director of the center and associate professor of economics at Longwood, “Our challenge is to show educators how to bring some excitement to the teaching of economics.  The subject itself, economics, has a
rather dull image, but we have ways of making it fun to learn.  And both students and teachers are responding.”  Some of these innovative learning activities include student-oriented programs such as The Stock Market Game™, where teams of students develop and maintain an investment portfolio; the Economics Challenge, a state-wide quiz bowl; and Our World is a Global Village day camp for children in grades 2 through 5. 

“When teachers attend an LCEE training session, the benefits they receive extend beyond curriculum units and re-certification credits,” explains Marks.  “They receive knowledge that empowers them and they experience proven teaching techniques that excite them. Most importantly, this helps our students to learn important life skills and to succeed in state-mandated assessments.”

The Longwood Center for Economic Education serves 19 counties in southern and central Virginia and programs are open to educators at any grade level, including parents involved in home schooling networks.  Educators who could benefit from LCEE programs are encouraged to contact Diana Shores, program manager, at 434.395.2461 for a list of upcoming training opportunities.  Or, visit the LCEE web page at www.longwood.edu\lcee.   The LCEE is part of the Virginia Council on Economic Education and the National Council on Economic Education.