Survey of Economics uses the "4-step-method" described on this webpage.

1st Step

2nd Step

3rd Step

4th Step

1ST STEP:  REGISTER AND COMPLETE ITEMS 1 TO 6.
Register for the course; then get the following 6 items accomplished and working for you:

1.  Register and pay for Survey of Economics.

2.  Purchase your books.
Get your Essential Foundations of Economics, the accompanying  Study Guide, and The Wall Street Journal from the PHCC bookstore or the publisher.  Register for http://www.myeconlab.com/ , the website provided by your publisher.  Instructions for doing this are provided inside the cover of your Essential Foundations of Economics text.  I strongly recommend you use the same user-id and password you use to enter BlackBoard.  In that way, I can help you if you forget them.  If you use any other user-id and password and forget either, I cannot help you (other than to instruct you to call the 800 number to the publisher).

See the related link Books and Required Supplies.
3.  Get access to Internet. 
Use Internet Explorer as your browser. (Netscape Navigator will not work well with PHCC  websites.)

4.  Complete a Proctor Form (if necessary).
If you intend to take your exams at a location other than Patrick Henry Community College contact Carol Ford, cford@ph.vccs.edu and request, complete, and return a proctor form to our Learning Resource Center.

5.  Visit BlackBoard Entry portal and use its tutorials if necessary. 
You need to be able to enter Survey of Economics, its Syllabus,  and its

15-Module Calendars
Fall
Spring
Summer

.
If you have password problems or do not know how to use Blackboard, ask the webmaster, mnelson@ph.vccs.edu for help.  He may suggest a variety of tutorials online to help you overcome your fear or your learning deficiency.

In addition to course modules, BlackBoard gives you access to the instructor (click Meet your instructor ) and to two communication tools we use extensively:
-  Discussion Group; and
-  Email capability to other enrolled classmates.

6.  Know What To Do When BlackBoard Fails.
Since BlackBoard will fail on occasions, visit the instructor website at http://164.106.143.4/eco.  Make sure you can use the instructor website link  to find:
     (1)  the Course Syllabus, 
     (2)  the 15-Module Calendar that contains:
             (i)  Chapter Title, and further links to
             (ii) Course Objectives for each chapter   
             (iii) Lesson Plan Part 1 and Part 2 for each chapter and
             (iv) Chapter PowerPoint Lecture.

 

2ND STEP: 
STUDY THESE THREE THINGS BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE COURSE:

1.  How the course is organized, (See the related links: Welcome to Survey of Economics and on its opening menu click How this course is organized).
2.  What the learning objectives Are,  (Scroll through the link Table of Contents for Survey of Economics  and
3.  How You're Evaluated on learning objectives (Within the Syllabus Need to Know menu click the link How to Prepare.
Become familiar with the rules in this syllabus and read chapters in the sequence mentioned in the

15-Module Calendars
Fall
Spring
Summer

.

1.  Use Essential Foundations of Economics, your accompanying Study Guide, this syllabus, or the 15-module-calendar to find the learning objectives for each chapter.
2.  Assess your comprehension and mastery of each learning objective to pinpoint weaker areas that need more study.
- You can do this by completing the Self-Tests in your Study Guide.
- You can also so this by taking practice exams online at http://www.EconFoundations.com .

 

3RD STEP: 
MEET YOUR CLASSMATES, AND BECOME COMFORTABLE USING ELECTRONIC RESOURCES.

A.  Use Blackboard Discussion Group, http://wwwEconFoundations.com , and The Wall Street Journal to:

          1.  Answer questions and ask questions from fellow students.
          2.  Get page directed assistance for errors created on practice tests.
          3.  Prepare for your team presentations.
          4.  Prepare your individual issue paper.

B.  Contact your webmaster, mnelson@ph.vccs.edu to learn how to use the Blackboard electronic delivery system effectively.  Tell him you are a new student who may need online tutorial assistance to help you master Blackboard, or in other words, ask for help if you need it!

C.  Contact the learning resource center director, cford@ph.vccs.edu if you need a proctor for your exams because you are unable to complete your exams on the PHCC campus.

D.  Become comfortable with checking your course Blackboard announcements, email, assignments, grades, and discussion board through repetitive and frequent use.

Develop study partners using email and discussion board on Blackboard and learn to treat them as you would wish to be treated.

 

4TH STEP:
BE PROACTIVE ABOUT LEARNING

 A.  Plan to start and finish the class on time.

 B.  Consult the Table of Contents for Survey of Economics about the sequence of materials you will study during each module.

 C.  Identify the learning objectives being mastered during each class session, or during each daily class outline before your start that session.

For in-class students: 
(0) Sign the class attendance roster before class begins.
(1) Read the book and "become thoroughly confused" before you come to class.  This strange-sounding piece of advice actually works!  As your instructor I already know where the difficult spots are in each area of study.  Because there are many of them, I spend my time upon them.  If you have read far enough to become confused, you'll soon find that my class time with you allows you to return home unconfused.  But if you come to class not confused, you are highly likely to leave the classroom confused.  That's because difficult concepts strung together will confuse those of you who have not prepared as I advised you. 
(2)  Complete your Study Guide in all its detail before exam time.  Answers to everything are already in the study guide.
(3) If you need help with graphing, study the appendix to the first chapter, and get additional help on graphing from the publisher's website online.
(4)  Use your publisher's electronic resources.  You can take practice quizzes online with immediate grading and referral by page number to your text and study guide for those questions you answered in error.
(5)  Meet your classmates, and establish study partners using Email and Discussion Board.

For distant learners: 
(1) You have to be mature enough to find and utilize all the resources I have placed at your disposal.  We have built redundancy (repetition) into the text and study guide.  As your instructor I have given you two lesson plans and a PowerPoint slide show for each module. 
(2) Read the book thoroughly. This strange-sounding piece of advice actually works!  As your instructor I already know where the difficult spots are in each area of study.  Because there are many of them, I spend my time upon them.  If you have read far enough to become confused, you'll soon find that my class time with you allows you to return home unconfused.  But if you come to class not confused, you are highly likely to leave the classroom confused.  That's because difficult concepts strung together will confuse those of you who have not prepared as I advised you. 
(3) If you need help with graphing, study the appendix to the first chapter, and get additional help on graphing from the publisher's website online.
(4)  Complete your Study Guide in all its detail before exam time.  Answers to everything are already in the study guide.
(5)  Use your publisher's electronic resources.  You can take practice quizzes online with immediate grading and referral by page number to your text and study guide for those questions you answered in error.
(4)  Meet your classmates, and create study partners using Email and Discussion Board.

 

REPETITION IS A KEY TO SUCCESSFUL LEARNING

The more often and more intensively you work at each link in the 4-step method, the more successful you become:
- in mastering Survey of Economics,
- succeeding at Patrick Henry Community College, and
- equipping yourself to enter the workforce in a highly productive manner.