How to Use Daily Class Outlines

The first step  to prepare for each class is "see the big picture" by clicking your mouse on the 15-Module Calendar on the ECO 120 - Survey of Economics course homepage.  (Click the link to your course homepage which appears on the instructor's homepage found at http://www.ph.vccs.edu/eco on your Internet Explorer browser.)

The 15-Module Calendar gives you the suggested 15 week calendar sequence of chapter titles, and tells you the dates on which exams are scheduled during modules 5, 10, and 15.   The 15-Module Calendar also gives you links called:

Objectives
Slides (PowerPoint presentations)
Part 1 and
Part 2.

The second step is to click your mouse on the Objectives for the chapter you want to study.   Note that:

bulletLearning objectives are listed for each chapter in your study guide.   The web page link called Objectives lists the three or four most important learning objectives for each assigned chapter.  Your instructor refers to these three or four most important learning objectives as the "Course Objectives."

The third step is to click your mouse on:

bulletPart 1 and Part 2

Part 1 is the link to the first class session on each chapter assigned.  
Part 2 is the link to the second class session on each chapter assigned. 

Both Part 1 and Part 2 are organized into specific daily class outlines.   Most daily class outlines have the following sequence of events built in for everyday classroom use:

bulletReview
bulletObjectives
bulletClass Activity
bulletSummary
bulletHomework

By following these three steps, you've gotten "The Big Picture." 

You are now aware of what will be going on in each class so you can begin to prepare in depth.  After discovering which course objectives you should master, and how the instructor intends to emphasize specific course objectives, you should read your text and study guide word-for-word because you have discovered what materials you must master.  You also know what homework you should accomplish at home.  It is important in economics to read the graphs and to complete the graphs and calculations which are called for in the Study Guide exercises.

Having prepared in this way, attend both class sessions on each chapter if possible.  Use the link to the Slides (PowerPoint presentations) on each daily class outline if you cannot attend class.  (Slides are slow to download, and may require several minutes.)   Notice that the instructor holds closely to the daily class outlines he has prepared for you.

By reviewing these daily class outlines before your study in depth,  you will become comfortable with the regimen being followed.

Don't neglect to review these daily class outlines again before exams.  The best learning seems to occur:

(1) when there has been sufficient preparation on your part,
(2) when you attend and participate, and
(3) when you reinforce what you have learned through a review, either by yourself, or with a study partner. 
(4) It's important that you meet, greet, and study with other students taking this course by using email within the Communication Section that is within of our BlackBoard electronic delivery system.

To get your BlackBoard password click http://WhoamI.vccs.edu and answer the questions.  For more help with BlackBoard, contact Mark Nelson, mnelson@ph.vccs.edu, our friendly webmaster, or call him at (276) 656-0275 with your questions.

 

"Love for Econ springs eternal!"

 

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