Buffalo State College. Department of

Economics & Finance A large lecture Gen Ed course, primarily for

non-majors; a hybrid course Enrollments of 300+ per semester Move from traditional lecture to one with

multi- learning styles: on-line materials, including a text with embedded videos and ULAs meetings once a week

We do not use majors in Economics & Finance Why? The course evolved into a history of

economic systems from cavemen to the modern global economy and became popular in that context.

Historically Econ-Finance students not big on history.

The search for what students took the course, did well and liked it?

Students who liked Social Studies

Initially, hit and miss, but a student who had served as tutor for a couple semesters suggested recruitment in her major: Education with a Social studies concentration

A cooperative faculty member in that department helped send out a recruitment email flyer during the summer prior to implementation

Between that, & word of mouth students began to apply to be a ULA- a fairly solid initial group was rercuited

ANGEL training was central A specialized version of a faculty ANGEL

workshop designed and carried out A parallel workshop on content & course

activities was developed and provided All the ULAs had taken the course within the

past 3 semesters; all had experience with ANGEL in most of their course

Most significant all had education methods course completed

Communication and coordination of the ULAs Need for on-going faculty support Recognition of the individuality of the ULAs Emergence of ULA strengths and weaknesses Trust in ULA initiatives and willing to

experiment new techniques and ideas Discovery the ‘prof’ is not always ‘right’ Give and take between the instructor and the

ULAs Informal meetings: coffee, lunch- scheduling

Formal arrangements between the department of Economics & Finance and both the Education and History/ Social Studies departments

Recognition of the ULA experience as part of their practice teaching credit

More systematic recruitment Greater recruitment within the course Greater campus-wide information