10 December - More docs for Exam Review

Despite my protests otherwise, there will be a few questions on interest rates and the role of Central Banks on the test, so here are a few brief documents on each of those topics. You may use the book as well and I will discuss in class the type of question you might encounter.

7 December - Study Guide

Here are the study sheet and the Chapter 6 Powerpoint for the midterm. Any questions or clarifications, you can email me. Mr. Matt

4 December - Chapter 6 Materials

28 November - More Chapter 4 Stuff

Please check you email for upcoming assignment on Multinational Corporations as well as terms you will be expected to know for the quiz on Chapter 4 as well as the midterm exam.

Here is my Sample Business Enterprise Chart for you to compare with what you wrote (excepting advantages and disadvantages of each):

26 October - Textbook .pdf Copy

You will use the textbook for today's assignment on different types of Business Enterprises.

20 November - New Blogpost Topic

Look at the above tee Shirts.  After viewing Capitalism: A Love Story, I want you to either choose one of the above tee shirts or you can Google an image of your own choosing [just do an image search for 'Capitalism tee shirts' and you will come up with plenty] and comment on what message the shirt (and its wearer) are trying to convey and what the image or slogan on the shirt is saying about Capitalism.  Do you agree with its message, and if so why?  If not, explain why you think the slogan wrongly characterizes Capitalism as an economic system.  Post on your blog by next Monday, 26 November.

14 November - Steve Jobs Speech Assignment

Watch the following video of Steve Jobs giving a commencement speech at Stanford in 2005. For your next blog entry, I want you to reflect on Job's speech and then consider your own recipe for success, both in business and your future in general. Does Jobs make valid points for achieving success? How did Jobs learn from his experiences? Do you think the choices he made were good ones, or was he taking too much of a risk? Do you share his values, especially with regard to how one should pursue their career? Consider these questions in your response and make sure that your blogpost considers Jobs' words primarily from a business perspective. Due Tuesday 20th of November.

6 November - Upcoming Steve Jobs Reading Assignment

Please read Chapter 3 of the Steve Jobs biography for Monday, November 12th, 2012.  Please be prepared for a quiz/discussion on both Chapters 2 and 3 from the book.

5 November - Chapter 3 Economic Systems

Here is Chapter 3 for you to review, as well as use for your upcoming debate project.

31 October - Debate Activity

Here is the information on the debate activity you will be working on in class this Friday.

29 October - Activity on Planned (Command Economies)

Read the following and answer the questions on your blog. You may discuss your answers with your classmates. Here are my notes for Chapter 3 on different Market systems. I will also be posting in the near future the .pdf file for the Chapter 3 text.

15 October - Mr. Matt, Successful Businessman

Read the following and complete as directed. Due on Wednesday [17 October] in class.

9 October - Followup questions for Specialization Activity

Consider the following questions (as a guide) as you reflect on the Specialization activity we did today.  You may address each question individually or overall in a short paragraph.  You do not have to address every question, they are there to guide as you contrast use of an assembly line vs one person doing everything to produce a good.

1.    In your opinion, who [group or individual] was most successful in producing the boxes?  The groups or individual workers?  Consider how you (or your group, if you were in one) might have improved your method for constructing the boxes either as a group or individual.

2.    What was the best way to organize your group?  If you worked individually, how did you organize yourself to maximize the time and efficiency for making each box?

3.    Was your group (or working alone) enjoyable to work in? Why or why not?  How might have the working experience have been improved in terms of job satisfaction (if possible)?  If you worked alone, how did you feel about that experience?  Did you enjoy the process, or would you have preferred to work with a group (in an assembly line)?

5 October Brief and COOL Video on Specialization

Powerpoint Notes on Chapter 2- Quiz Thursday

Blog Assignment due Thursday 4th October

Read the Jobs bio (pp. .pdf 35--60 [Chapter 1]).  Think about Job's early life and surroundings.  What about his early life, upbringing, and environment might have contributed to his later successes? 

New Blog Assignment for Wednesday 26 September

Money Project

Here is the Chapter 2 Text. You may refer to for quiz and test reviews or to clarify concepts taught in the course.

13 September (Day D) New Blogpost Assignment

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You are to write your next blogpost based upon the information and the material we will discuss in class on the Factors of Production.  Due Next Tuesday, 18 September.

You and your friend Billy Bob have been doing a good business at your Thai sausage stand you have been operating on weekends in a market stall at the local parking lot at Big C. Sales are brisk! You have decided that, rather than just blowing your profits on a new iPhone for Mr. Matt, to invest in a way to expand your business and -- you hope -- bring in even more profit. You have been selling 200 sausages each weekend at B100 each. Supplies cost you B10,000 and rent for your space in the parking lost is B5000. You and a friend each spent five hours working at the stand. That means you have B5000 left to divide between your wages, and money to invest in expanding your business. The more wages you pay yourself and your buddy Billy Bob, the less you will have to invest.

Now that you know about  these three factors [of production]--Land, Labor, and Capital--that you need in order to produce wealth, perhaps this knowledge can help you approach this business decision. We will  forget about one of the factors (Enterprise) since we assume you are an entrepreneur and assume control of the business with your friend.

How might you go about investing your sausage profits?  Identify how you would specifically or generally make investments in additional Land, Labor and Capital -- and if you want to, try to estimate, as best you can, how many additional sausages each option would allow you to sell, and how much profit your investments would bring in.  You may be as creative in your approach as you want but take the assignment seriously.  This is not expected to be a business plan.

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07 September (Day B) Study Powerpoint on Scarcity

Here is the Powerpoint presentation for Chapter 1. Study it for the quiz Monday.

5 September - Blogpost Topic for next week

Read the previous blogpost on Spiderman and Opportunity Cost.  Now choose a superhero.  Imagine that you are that Superhero, but your regular job is as a student here at RIS.  What might be some of the opportunity costs associated with your dual role as superhero and student?  Write a brief paragraph (about a half page's worth, single spaced) on the above topic.  Other students are invited to comment, though I will not make it mandatory. Creativity and humor are encouraged!  Due 11 September 2012.

CHAPTER 1 SCARCITY FOR STUDYING

03 September 2012 Comic Sample of Opportunity Cost

COPY THIS TABLE AND COMPLETE AS DIRECTED.

Here my brochure embedded into the blog...this is what I would like you to do as well.

My Advertising Brochure 3 September

Here is my advertisement project.

Matt's Brochure

28 August (Day B)

Please go to this link to view your next assignment (project). This project will be due on Monday, 3 September, 2012.

Create an Advertising brochure Project

Sample: ADVERTISING BROCHURE

22 August (Day B)

Go to the following website: http://hassam.hubpages.com/hub/Types-Of-Industry

After reading the article, fill in the Google document PRODUCT QUESTIONS and answer the following:

1.  What general industry classification do you think your product falls into?

2.   Look at your product: What different industries do you think were involved in the manufacture and distribution of your Product? 

3.   Write down the ingredients or materials used to make your product (use your best guess if it is not listed).  As you list each ‘ingredient’ or material, which industry to think was involved in its manufacture or production?  If you don’t know, use your best guess or research on the Internet. 

4.  What kind of manufacturing facilities and transportation do you think would have been involved in the production of your product (factory, farm worker, train, plane etc.)?

.

20 August (Day B)

Choose an article related to Economics in S.E./Central Asia.  Comment on how it relates to Economics and its significance to our study of Econ this year. DUE FRIDAY 24 AUGUST 2012.

14 August (Day 14) - Wants and Needs Chart

Today we will be discussing wants and needs....to get you to think about the difference, we will do the following discussion activity together in class.

Wants vs Needs Chart: go to the following Google doc and we will fill it out together as a class.

Wants and Needs Chart

Excellent primer on how to take notes can be found here: Note Taking

Economics Question for today:

Go to the following Google doc, find your name, and share your opinion with the rest of the class.

Today's question:  Why do you think the study of Economics is important (I assume you think it is, since you are in this class)?  You can answer generally or discuss it from your own personal goals (in other words, you can approach it from your own personal perspective as to what you hope get from your study of Economics as a subject ECON QUESTION 1).

Welcome to Economics Grades 10-12!  On this blog I will post links to Google docs we are using in class, or assignments to be downloaded or just interesting information about Economics in general. My first blog post is really just an overview of what the class will be about and some basic guidelines, though we will talk about this in class, so don't worry about memorizing all of it.

• Welcome to Economics!!!!!!  Over the coming school year, I will be attaching the textbook chapters that will be utilized for this class.  There is no physical textbook that you will have carry around with you; the entire textbook consists of .pdf files for each chapter that you will download as we cover the relevant material from a specific chapter.  Create a folder for this class and keep all downloaded materials in that folder so that you can easily access them when they are needed in class.  Although we will not use the book very much in class, you should have a copy to refer to for test and course material that needs to be reviewed for any upcoming tests or quizzes.  I will also be attaching a overview of the course expectations that we will go over on the first day of class.

• Three ring notebook
• Folder for all returned Assignments, quizzes, projects etc.
• Lined paper and spiral notebook
• Pens, pencils, and erasers
• Highlighters
• Textbook Chapters [.pdf files], handouts, outside reading materials as  assigned

Also below (from the RIS Assessment Manual, are the student responsibilities for this course (and all others):  I will discuss briefly but you might want to review the manual itsself, which I have attached, especially the items on Academic Integrity and Grading for Exams.
Student Responsibilities:

Students are expected to use assessment as a means to improve their own
learning. It is, therefore, the responsibility of students to:

• Make full use of assessment as an opportunity to
demonstrate and improve their knowledge and skills.
• Have a clear understanding of all assessment
expectations, evaluation descriptors, and exemplars
provided.
• Know the balance between and relative weighting of
formative and summative assessments.
• Be open and active in assessing their own progress.
• Communicate openly and honestly with their teachers
and parents about assessment.
• Take advantage of their teachers’ professional
knowledge, judgment, and counsel.
• Meet all assessment expectations and deadlines to the
best of their abilities.
• Be familiar with the school’s Expected Schoolwide
Learning Results and IB Learner Profile, and look for
meaningful connections in and outside the classroom.
• Maintain a high level of personal and academic
integrity.

Also, with regard to grading (especially weighting of final exams):

*All coursework subject to evaluation must be

divided into Major and Minor Assessments, synonymous with Summative and Formative.

*Major Assessments should be weighted at 45% and Minor Assessments at 25% of the mark for a Quarter. Exam counts for 30% of the final grade.

*Major Assessments should occur two to four times per Quarter. Minor Assessments should occur more frequently, consistent with instructional goals and on-going support of learning.

*All core academic courses – English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Language, and Social Science – must include semester exams, that should be weighted at 20% of the final mark for Grades 9 and 10.

Finally, with reference to Academic Integrity:

Academic Integrity is an essential ethical value in all educational
institutions and a fundamental expectation at Ruamrudee. Consistent with
the school’s Expected Schoolwide Learning Results and the IB Learner
Profile, all students at RIS are expected to demonstrate a high degree of
integrity. A student who demonstrates a high degree of Academic
Integrity:

• Arrives at class on time and prepared to learn.
• Attends all classes unless excused for good cause.
• Completes all assignments to the best of his/her ability.
• Submits all assignments on time unless granted an extension.
• Prepares well for course activities and assessments.
• Takes full advantage of all learning opportunities.
• Refrains from all acts of cheating and plagiarism.
 

Breaches of Academic Integrity do harm to the individual student and
affect both assessment and evaluation. Because these also threaten the
integrity of the learning community as a whole, such breaches cannot go
unaddressed.

The most serious breaches of Academic Integrity are excessive
unexcused absence from class, failure to submit assigned work, and
academic dishonesty. Each of these infractions carries with it
consequences that could ultimately result in the denial of academic credit.

Unexcused Absence

Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes in which they are
registered except in cases of:

• Illness.
• Family or personal emergency.

• Important personal or family matters that cannot be seen to outside school hours.

• Attendance at school-sponsored events.

• Other reasons approved by the school administration.

Absence is considered excessive when it exceeds 10% of the instructional time of a course.

Any student who misses an excessive number of classes in any course,
unless excused for cause by the administration, will have an Incomplete,
with a Grade Point of zero, assigned for the course. Regardless of the
level of achievement attained through assessment, credit will thereafter
be granted only upon successful completion of Credit Recovery.

Failure to Submit Assigned Work:
Students are expected to submit all assigned work on or before the established due date.