Thursday, October 06, 2005
USI Center for Economic Education wins statewide award
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From the price of clothing to the cost of gasoline – economics is a subject that affects everybody everyday. For its contribution to preparing students in kindergarten through high school to make sound economic decisions, the USI Center for Economic Education will receive the Peter V. Harrington University Center Award for Excellence from the Indiana Council for Economic Education (ICEE). The award will be presented October 12 in Carmel, Indiana, at ICEE’s annual awards program. ICEE sponsors 13 regional Centers for Economic Education at universities throughout the state. All centers (except the previous year’s winner) are eligible for the award, which includes a plaque and a check for $3,000 to use for the advancement of economic education in the region. The USI Center for Economic Education promotes programs that increase economic literacy for students in K-12 schools in 11 Southwestern Indiana counties. Dr. Gregory P. Valentine, USI professor of business education, has directed the center at USI since its inception in 1988. “Economics is an everyday life-altering experience,” Valentine said. “It’s about choices and opportunity costs. It’s about what you give up in order to have what you want.” The Harrington award, named for a former ICEE executive director, recognizes the USI center for the following accomplishments toward increasing economic literacy in 2004-05: • The USI center more than doubled the number of teachers trained. In 2003-04, 162 teachers attended training workshops. In 2004-05, 331 teachers took advantage of training opportunities. Valentine said, “ The purpose of the workshops is to show teachers how they can infuse economics into their existing curriculum or upgrade the quality of their teaching by introducing new and vibrant curriculum materials.” Valentine teaches three workshops in the fall and three in the spring for area teachers. He also has made presentations at national meetings of the National Business Education Association and the National Association of Economic Educators. • One of the region’s schools, Luce Elementary in Richland, Indiana, was awarded a $2,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Education during 2004-05. Pat Keith, a fifth-grade teacher at Luce, said the school has received grants for four consecutive years and that faculty at the school have implemented economic instruction in every classroom using ICEE curriculum materials such as Play Dough Economics, Econ and Me, Economics and Children’s Literature, and Tigeriffics as well as the Stock Market Simulation. Keith said, “Economics is an integral part of society and the elementary classroom. Most elementary teachers depend upon the social studies textbook to provide the needed information to teach the economic standards. And truthfully, the word used to “scare me” as far as teaching it as a separate subject at the elementary level. However, the Indiana Council for Economic Education has tons of resources and grants available for teachers.” In 2004-05, Keith led Luce students in a production of The Three Piggy Econ-Opera,” based on the classic tale but emphasizing the pooling of economic resources and wise economic decision-making. • The USI Center for Economic Education successfully piloted a modified key teacher program designed to develop lead teachers in different areas of economics subject matter. Ten teachers from area elementary, middle, and high schools completed an intensive one-week summer course in key economic concepts and curriculum development and will return to the USI campus this fall for a three-day follow-up session. The training included a visit to the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis. Teachers who complete the course earn graduate credit or credit hours toward license renewal. Valentine said participants have developed curriculum materials that incorporate the concept of economics into what they are teaching in their fields. A teacher of consumer and family science has prepared a teaching unit on the economic importance of the textiles industry during the Civil War. A teacher of world history developed lesson plans on the economic impact of the Crusades. • The USI center continued to promote the ICEE Stock Market Simulation game and train teachers to implement the program. In 2004-05, 665 teams (about 2,500 students) participated in Southwestern Indiana. Two area teams were first-place finishers statewide. Culver Elementary won the elementary division and Westside Catholic placed first statewide among middle schools. The Stock Market Simulation gives students an opportunity to learn how the economic system works, analyze news on the economy and markets, strengthen math and computer skills, and make decisions in teams. Participants invest an imaginary $100,000 over a 10-week period. “It’s exciting for them to see themselves making and losing money in real time,” Valentine said. “It’s a way they can look at their future.” • The USI Center continued to improve economic literacy in the region during 2004-05 by providing educational presentations in area classrooms. Valentine makes presentations or demonstrations in K-12 classrooms on topics requested by teachers. “If a teacher wants a program about the stock market, I will talk about that,” he said. “In the middle school, economics is part of the social studies curriculum. A program called “Candyconomy” is of interest to that age group.” Lessons for younger students involve using money for counting or learning about the historic figures depicted on currency and coins. A program called Fundamental Facts of the Dollar Bill explores symbolism used in the design of the nation’s paper currency. • The USI Center for Economic Education has received the maximum five-year affiliation status from the National Council on Economic Education following its past three reviews. The Harrington Award is sponsored financially by Duke Realty Corporation. |
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