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Economics UPDATE
The monthly Economics Network Email Newsletter
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7 November 2005
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
Why Study Economics? Student Films
2. NOTICEBOARD
Scottish Economic Society Annual Conference
Economics Via IBSS
Embedding Threshold Concepts
3. AND FINALLY.....
Marginal Revolution
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1. WHAT'S NEW
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WHY STUDY ECONOMICS? STUDENT FILMS
The Economics Network commissioned six-groups of students earlier this year
to produce short films on one or more of the following topics:
- Why study economics?
- What is the relevance of economics in the world today?
- What is it like to study economics at University?
- What skills do you develop as an economist?
- What does studying economics lead to?
The films produced are all imaginative, rich and offer very different
perspectives on what studying economics at degree level is like. Each group
was loaned a digital camcorder, a laptop computer and microphone. Training
was given during a two-day workshop in Bristol on how to plan, film and edit
short-films. The whole project was an enormous success and we hope the films
inspire and enthuse students to study economics at degree level. We will be
re-running the event next spring so keep an eye on the website for
forthcoming announcements.
The films are available to view on the Why Study Economics? website
http://whystudyeconomics.ac.uk/films
They will also be showcased at various careers events and A-Level
conferences throughout the coming year and can be viewed online or
downloaded in high resolution for use in open days and schools liaison.
Please contact Jessica Lincoln at the Economics Network for further information.
(Email: [log in to unmask])
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2. NOTICEBOARD
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SCOTTISH ECONOMIC SOCIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Perth, Monday 24 – Wednesday 26 April 2006
The Society invites submissions of papers for presentation and proposals for
dedicated paper sessions at its annual conference in Perth. There will be
separate policy and pedagogy streams.
Papers from all areas of Economics and Econometrics are invited from
academics and practitioners in government, local authority, quango, private
sector and charitable organisations. Abstracts must be submitted
electronically in Word format via e-mail to Anne Gasteen, Conference
Committee Co-ordinator, (Email:[log in to unmask]) by Friday 16th December
2005. Contributors will receive e-mail notification as to whether their
papers have been accepted by Monday 16th January 2006.
Proposals for organised sessions should include the title of the proposed
session, the name of the chair and a set of three or four abstracts in Word
format. Proposals should be submitted via e-mail to Anne Gasteen, at the
e-mail address above, by Friday, 25th November 2005. Full papers for
Organised Sessions must be submitted by the Session Organiser by Friday 17th
March 2006.
ECONOMICS VIA IBSS
The International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) online is now
available to UK HE/FE institutions via an improved interface. IBSS provides
users with significant benefits including:
- A alerting service
- Flexible full text linking
- Improved advanced searching
- Cross-searching on several resources simultaneously (depending on which
other services your institution subscribes to via Ovid).
The following online resources are available to keep academics and students
up to date about IBSS coverage of economics:
- Economics via IBSS -- new subject guide (PDF)
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/IBSS/pdf/IBSSSubj_Economics_final.pdf
- List of economics journals covered by IBSS
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/IBSS/about/Journals_subjects/economics_js.htm
For information on how to access IBSS at your institution contact your
library or visit your library's website. Please note that the IBSS via BIDS
service ceased on 30 September 2005. UK HE/FE institutions will continue to
benefit from access to IBSS free of charge via Ovid as a result of funding
by the Economic and Social Research Council. For further information visit
the IBSS website at www.ibss.ac.uk
EMBEDDING THRESHOLD CONCEPTS
This project aims to improve students’ understanding in economics by
developing first year undergraduates’ acquisition of threshold concepts.
Threshold concepts were developed as part of the Enhancing Teaching-Learning
Environments in Undergraduate Courses (ETL) Project and our work is to
extend the identification of these concepts and to assess ways of embedding
these in the first year curriculum. Our application concerns both students
on specialist economics degrees and non-specialists, for instance those on
business degrees. Further information about the project, teaching materials
and the latest edition of the project newsletter are available at:
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/thresholdconcepts
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3. AND FINALLY....
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MARGINAL REVOLUTION
From the Marginal Revolution economics blog, a guide to the work and lives
of the two recent winners of the Nobel Price for Economics, Thomas Schelling
and Robert Aumann:
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2005/10/schelling_and_a_1.html
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2005/10/robert_aumann_n.html
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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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