Meet Me Halfway: Using Challenging Group Discussions to Break Down Barriers between the Instructor and Students

Sara Gundersen, Valparaiso University,

Sara.Gundersen@valpo.edu

Presentation

• Introduce myself and topic• Practice• More specifics• Practice• Questions/comments• Perhaps more practice

• Please try to imagine you are students during the activities!

Background

• Lecture• Frequent breaks• Conversation through frequent group

discussions

How different

• Not strictly graded• Students can work on their own• Weaved throughout• Any chance, they make connections on their

own

LFPR and real GDP

• Context: Economics of Race and Gender class• Senior economics majors and first year

Theology majors

Notes about activity

• New connection for opportunity cost• The use of the blanks allows students to use

the sheet in the lecture, also gives some Econ majors a chance to remember

• Give them a chance to draw the graph, incentive to work with others

• Bonus question

Source: The Economics of Women, Men, and Work, 7 th Edition, Blau, Ferber and Winkler (2014)

Group Discussions—specifics

• Paper• Given before or within lecture• Usually first exposure—incentive to pay

attention• Learn through the struggle, leads to “aha

moments”• There needs to be a credible threat!!!– On exam– No spoon feeding

Group Discussions--Specifics

• Can have– Review– Connecting to other topics– Teach new topics– Personal questions

Harris-Todaro Model of Migration

• Economics of Developing Nations

Notes about activity

• Personal question• Students can learn the model on their own• Connecting to big, exciting questions

Megacities!

• Cities of 10 million+ people

Harris-Todaro Model of Migration

• Compare expected wage in the urban sector with the expected wage in the rural sector

• (.5*50,000 + .5*0) < 1*30,000• The person will not move

My perceived successes

• Breaking down barriers– Physically– Emotionally

My perceived successes

• Keep everyone interested (challenge some, extra help to others)

• Instant Feedback• Students pay attention!• Involves introverts• I have more fun• More students enjoy class and enjoy

economics

Challenges

• Relax if off task, they will get the message• Remind them to study, after an “aha”

moment, may think they have it covered

Questions? Suggestions?

I have included a few introductory course activities for your reference.

AD/AS model

Externalities