Throughout the Fox Valley, economics education classes are being offered to teachers K-12 who want to learn more about economics and have thought about bringing these topics into the classroom. Classes will be offered in both classroom and online formats.

Classroom courses:

Mini Society Economics offers training to teachers of grades 3-7 to implement Mini-Society in the classroom (two credit course). Mini-Society is an experience-based learning system in which students create their own societies.
This is a three-day course and will be administered as follows:

• Oshkosh area teachers will meet at Carl Traeger Middle School from 4-9 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27.
• Appleton area teachers will meet at Appleton North High School from 4-9 p.m. Feb. 28 and 29.
• Teachers from both Oshkosh and Appleton will come together at Neenah High School from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 1.

Energy, Economics and the Environment will teach middle and high school teachers the basic knowledge and concept bases needed to teach students how to understand the tradeoffs involved in ensuring a quality environment, the wise use of energy resources and a vibrant economy (one credit course).
The course will be taught at Neenah High School by Dr. Jim Grunloh, UW Oshkosh Economics Professor.

• Thursdays, April 3, 10, 17, 24, 4:15-8:15 p.m.

Economics for Elementary Teachers will teach participants how to study basic economic concepts through the use of 20 lessons included in the new Focus K-2 and Focus 3-5 Economics curriculum guides. Lessons are designed to give active, highly personalized experiences with economics, and applications to real world situations and contexts. Participants who complete this class will understand and have the tools to teach all the Wisconsin State Standards in economics that apply to these grade levels (two credit course).
The course will be taught at Oshkosh West High School by Dr. Jim Grunlow, UW Oshkosh Economics Professor.

• Tuesdays, April 1, 15, 29 and May 6 from 4:15 – 8:15 p.m.
• Saturdays, April 12 and 26 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (box lunch provided on Saturdays)

Online courses:

Introduction to Financial Markets will prepare teachers to introduce students to the world of investing, its benefits and risks, and the critical role it plays in fostering capital formation and job creation in our market economy. The class will use Learning, Earning and Investing as a source of lessons on the language of the financial markets and the role of financial institutions. This class will be particularly helpful for teachers participating in the Economics Wisconsin Stock Market Simulation (one credit course).
The course instructor is Dr. Jim Grunloh, UW Oshkosh Economics Professor.

• Feb. 11 – March 21

Basic Economic Concepts and Issues teaches basic economic concepts and is recommended for anyone who has had little or no economics training. Participants will become familiar with economic issues appropriate for each grade level, Web sites useful for obtaining economic information, curriculum materials and learning activities appropriate for classroom use (three credit course).
The course instructor is Dr. Jim Grunloh, UW Oshkosh Economics Professor.

• Feb. 11 – May 2

Tentative online course offerings for summer 2008 include:

• Health Care Economics
• Economics and Children’s Literature
• Economics of Government Decision Making

For more information, contact the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Center for Economic Education by calling (920) 424-2440, or by sending an e-mail to econed@uwosh.edu.