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Economics UPDATE
The monthly Economics Network Email Newsletter
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6th December 2004
Welcome to UPDATE the Economics Network Email Newsletter. This newsletter
is intended to inform ECON-LTSN subscribers about our activities and to
provide other information that may be of interest. Economics UPDATE will be
distributed on the first Monday of each calendar month.
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CONTENTS
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1. WHAT'S NEW
Student Awards 2005
New Case Studies
Web Site Overhaul
2. NOTICEBOARD
2004 Student Survey Results
3. AND FINALLY.....
Seasons Greetings
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1. WHAT'S NEW
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STUDENT AWARDS 2005
What makes the best learning experience for an economics student? Economics
Network is offering a prize of £150 in gift vouchers to a UK economics
undergraduate who submits the best essay on this topic.
The aim of this competition is to highlight good practice in this area and
to motivate students to think about how they learn. The closing date is the
18th February 2005. All shortlisted entries will be published on our website
and the winner will be presented with their prize at a national conference
in summer 2005. We would be grateful if you could publicise the competition
to your students and other interested colleagues. Further details including
a printable poster and on-line submission form are available at:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/awards/student_essay.htm
NEW CASE STUDIES
The following case studies have been added to our Web site:
Teaching Quantitative Classes at the London School of Economics
In this case study the author shares his experience of being a class teacher
of quantitative classes (Microeconomics Principles and Mathematical
Economics) at the LSE:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/showcase/rosa_quants.htm
The Revision of Material Using Noughts and Crosses
This article discusses an adaptation of noughts and crosses as a method of
revising course material with seminar groups of up to eighteen students:
http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/showcase/elliott_0x.htm
WEB SITE OVERHAUL
Our site has been given a new look and navigation structure to match our new
branding as the Economics Network. For one thing, this means that all the
resources we link to, from data sources to external examiners, are linked
from one index. We hope you find it an improvement.
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2. NOTICEBOARD
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2004 STUDENT SURVEY RESULTS
Economics Network has conducted its second on-line national student survey
to obtain information about student perceptions of learning Economics. A
total of 2022 students took part in the survey: 1843 undergraduates and 179
postgraduates.
Responses to individual questions:
Although only 50% of students stated that their degree course had turned out
to be as they expected, more than 70% of them were satisfied with the
overall quality of their degree course. It is too early with just two
surveys to speak about tendencies, but the consistency of the results of
2002 and 2004 surveys seems very encouraging. The results of the survey were
also consistent with similar findings from Australian universities.
Students tend to agree more with the statements that their economics courses
are intellectually stimulating; sharpen their analytical, communication and
problem solving skills; provide them with all the information they needed
for the course; help to develop the ability to plan their own work and that
they benefit from the contact with active researchers.
Students tend to disagree more with the statements that they are actively
engaged in the lectures; their workloads are heavy and the pace is too fast;
their degree course has helped them to develop an ability to work as team
member; that staff seemed more interested in testing what they have
memorised; Economics software is effective in helping them to learn and that
it is easy to know the standard of the work expected from them. As in 2002
students expressed polarised opinions regarding the appropriateness of the
amount of maths and stats included in their courses.
Results from open-ended questions:
-Best aspects of the course: the variety of modules in the degree, quality
of teaching staff and employability prospects of the graduates
-Aspects that could be improved: passive teaching, poor level of English
language of lecturers and teaching assistants, lack of feedback on assessment
-Hardest aspects of the degree: maths and stats elements of the course and
adjusting to university life
-Most useful activities in seminars: active workshops with group discussion,
presentations and problem solving exercises, developing skills useful for
future employment
-Least useful activities in seminars: lack of interaction, “parrot-fashion
repetition of answers”, lack of feedback, lack of communication between
lecturers and students.
Nationally aggregated results will be available on our Web site shortly.
Participating departments will receive their own confidential reports soon.
In the meantime if you have any specific questions or queries please
contact Dr Inna Pomorina (Email: [log in to unmask])
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3. AND FINALLY....
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On behalf of everyone at Economics Network thank you for your support over
the last year. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
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CONTACT US
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If you have any suggestions, feedback or comments please contact:
Bhagesh Sachania, Information Officer, Economics Network
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel.: (0117) 928 7071
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