COURSE SYLLABUS
for
MICROECONOMICS ECON 2010
ONLINE COURSE
Principles of Microeconomics Mary Kelly
http://kainani.hpu.edu/mkelly mkelly@hpu.edu
Jan 12 –
TEXT: Economics
6th ed., Michael Parkin, 2002 and supplemental readings/handouts as directed.
The Student Guide is on the resource CD that comes with the book, as is the
Personal Tutor.
A. Online Issues: Online course have a few unique issues. Read carefully
1. In order to access the WebCT classroom, you will need a login and
password. Go to www.hpu.edu.
Your login is your HPU campus pipeline login (i.e. John Smith would be
“jsmith”) and your password. If you do not know your password or if you
have trouble, please call the help desk right away.
2. This is an asynchronous
course, which means there is no time when everyone has to be online all
together. To do so makes it difficult
for those who may be on a deployment or a TDY during this course.
3. There are no actual class meetings in person unless you miss the
final. If you miss the final, the
student has to make an appointment to take the final in person. The lectures are presented online, and are in
the discussion area.
4. We will communicate with postings to the discussion board. Assignments due to the posting board should
be accomplished on time for the class to proceed smoothly. The discussion board discussions are a part
of the grade and course requirements.
5. All quizzes and tests will be conducted online. There are “working” quizzes, which allow a
longer time period, usually 20 - 30 minutes.
Students should not try the working quiz without doing the assigned
work. Students will not have enough time
to look up each answer. Regular quizzes
are usually 3-5 minutes long. The
formats are multiple choice, true/false and fill-in the blank. The computer grades the quiz right away and
gives you a score. The quizzes become
available at the end of each week, as noted on the calendar. There are specific times to take the
quizzes. Students who do not complete
the quizzes in the assigned time receive a zero for that quiz.
6. Tests are accomplished the
same way as the quizzes. The mid term is
usually 50-60 questions, and the final is 75.
Both tests are divided into two parts, and both must be taken within the
prescribed time limits. The tests are
timed like the regular quizzes, but the window for taking the test is much
narrower for the tests. All quizzes and
tests must be your own work.
7. This course is not easier than a regular in-class course, but it
does allow a flexibility that many adult working students, particularly
military members, need. If you are not
able to keep up with the work, please contact me right away about another
option.
8. It is imperative that you keep up with the readings, reviewing the
lectures, and doing the quizzes as assigned.
Falling behind by one week puts students at a significant disadvantage
for the remainder of the course.
B. How To Do Online Work:
1. Obtain reliable access to the Internet. You may already have an Internet Service Provider (ISP), such as AOL or Roadrunner. If not, you can access the Internet through your HPU Campus Pipeline account. All registered students at HPU are given a free Campus Pipeline account. Not only does Campus Pipeline provide you with Internet access, it offers a calendar of university events, academic information, important dates, and more. Be aware that Campus Pipeline is heavily used, and you may experience some delays in connecting to the Internet during peak service hours. Factor this information into your study schedule. For more information about Campus Pipeline, or to determine your Campus Pipeline login and password, contact cphelp@hpu.edu.
2. Check Your Hardware Setup. Make sure that your home computer meets the minimum hardware requirements for this course by reviewing the hardware specifications for HPU's online program.
3. Check Your Software Setup. This course material is delivered primarily through the use of a computer. You will need a Web Browser, like Internet Explorer or Netscape, installed on your computer.
The WebCT software tracks your time online, your interactive responses, and your quiz scores. All of this information is automatically uploaded via the Internet and stored on a server, and may be viewed by both you and the instructor at any time throughout the semester.
From time to time, you will be required to access lectures and materials using "streaming media." In order to receive streaming media on your home computer, you will need to install a program called Windows Media Player. View a short tutorial describing how to download and install Windows Media Player. Then, connect to Microsoft to download your free copy of the software. Be sure to select version 7.1 of Windows Media Player.
4. Purchase Your Course Materials. You may
purchase your book, Economics in
person at the downtown campus (Blaisdell Hotel,
5. Technical Support. You do not need to be a computer wizard to take this course online. The most technical aspects of the course are the set-up and the installation of the software on your home computer. Once these tasks are completed, normally by the first week of the semester, you should find logging on to the course website easy and the software intuitive and very user-friendly. If you need help setting up an HPU Internet account, contact internet@hpu.edu. You may also contact me at anytime regarding technical matters pertaining to the course.
6. How Does the Course Work? The course is conducted online. The material is introduced through reading the text, the CD-ROM, the quizzes, the discussions, the use of streaming media lectures and book exercises. This allows you to learn at your own pace. Quizzes, chat sessions, discussion postings and other assignments will be completed online. Students are expected to meet all course deadlines. How you schedule your time to meet these deadlines is up to you.
C. COURSE
ISSUES:
1. COURSE
OBJECTIVES: This course analyzes economic behavior on a
small
or micro level. We focus on
consumers, firms and resource owners, and the impact of microeconomics on real
world issues. Specifically, the
objectives are:
A. Introduce the student to the fundamental nature of microeconomic
problems.
B. Familiarize the student with economic concepts of supply and demand,
and markets structures.
C. Introduce the student to economic philosophies and theories which
shape economic processes.
D. Introduce the student to major economic institutions and examine how
these institutions affect our domestic economy.
E. Pertinent economic ideas such as unemployment, inflation, recession,
interest rates, deficits, welfare, social security and poverty are recurring,
germane themes, and will be discussed at length.
F. Applications of economics to private investing, home buying, and
following financial pages add a practical aspect to microeconomics.
G. Generate a sincere interest in economics and raise student awareness
of the role of economics in society.
This course adds practical knowledge to economic theory and students
become informed on important economic issues.
2. CORE CURRICULUM THEMES: HPU
undergraduate integrated approach to learning is designed to introduce the
student to broad perspectives in various academic fields, develop the students’
critical thinking skills, and enhances their intellectual curiosity. The five
themes include Communication Skills, issues of a Global System,
understanding of World Cultures, ethical and moral decision relating Values
and Choices, and Research and Epistemology. This course vigorously supports these themes
with in-class projects and discussions and external assignments.
3. INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Mary
C. Kelly holds a BS from the
4. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: Online course. Students are responsible for all reading,
homework assignments and lecture material.
5. GRADING: Grades are based on quizzes, homework
assignments (to include discussion questions), exams, and projects, as follows:
Exams . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50%
Quizzes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20%
Research paper . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .20%
Assignments/online
discussions. . .10%
The grading scale is the standard 90-100 = A, 80-89 =B, 70-79 =C, and
60-69 = D. There are no plus/minus
grades.
A. Quizzes are graded and scores
made available immediately, so quizzes cannot be “made up.” Missed quizzes are
averaged as zero.
B. Projects are due as assigned.
Late projects are not accepted without prior permission.
C.. Class participation and written class assignments count. Students are encouraged to express views and
create active dialogue. This class is
supposed to help students learn to formulate ideas on economic processes and
the effects. Thinking and cogent discussions are part of the college experience.
D. Grades are not curved. There
is no extra credit.
6. ACADEMIC HONESTY: Is
demanded. Cheating or any form of plagiarism is absolutely not allowed.
No student may give or receive help or information from another during
examinations or quizzes, hand in another one's work as his/her own, nor engage
in plagiarism in any form. Research
papers are automatically run through a plagiarism system.
7. INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILITY: The
WebCT email is generally checked daily.
Internet email maryaloha@aol.com or
mkelly@hpu.edu and is checked (mostly)
nightly. Make sure to put “Micro online”
in the subject line for fastest response.
8. CLASS REQUIREMENTS: Must be fulfilled for a
passing grade.
D. PROJECTS
1. RESEARCH PAPER (20% of grade): This is 5-6 pages, typed, doubled-spaced, font 12,
with footnotes or endnotes, and a bibliography as noted above. Students will read The Wealthy Barber
by David Chilton, and Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson and
write on the salient points. Student
should analyze what aspects of both are most and least helpful. All papers are due electronically posted to
the webpage or as hard copy to the instructor by the night of the review (the
second to last night of class). All
papers are checked for plagiarism, so cite carefully.
Submit projects to
the appropriate category in the discussion page section.
2. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Throughout the course, posted on the
calendar, there are reading assignments and questions for discussion. Post your answers and thoughts on the
appropriate category in the discussion area.
Please keep up with these and submit them on time. Feel free to comment on others ideas as well
as the assigned readings from Pedestrian Guide to Economics. This is your participation grade.
E.
SCHEDULE
DATE SUBJECT
AND ASSIGNMENT
Week 1 Student introductions.
Study chapter 1. Study chapter 2.
Week 2 Study pp. 51-56
and chapters 3 and 4.
Week 3 Study chapter 5
and 6.
Week 4 Study chapter 7
and 8 pp. 168-170.
Week 5 First exam this week
Week 6 Study chapters 9
and 10 and chapter 11, pp. 233-240.
Week 7 Chapter 12, pp.258-259 and pp. 271-274, and chapter 13 pp.
305-310.
Week 8 Study chapter 14
pp. 337-342, and chapter 15.
Week 9 Study chapters
16, 17, pp. 389-390 and pp. 400-403.
Week 10 Final exam this
week.
Note: This is a very general
schedule. Dates and times are posted on
the course calendar. Students need to
keep up with the requirements in the course calendar.
F. Keys to success in this class.
1. Prepare for class by doing the reading and assignments.
2. Turn in assignments on time.
3. Read the syllabus and course calendar.
4. Review the new terms and definition throughout the week.
5. Start your projects early.
6. Find quiet, uninterrupted time to read, and concentrate completely
on the material when studying.
7. Let the instructor know immediately if an unexpected event (such as
a deployment) occurs during the course that may preclude your successful
completion of this class for options.
8. Participate in the online discussions on the questions, ect.
9. Help each other.