http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ A search of MERLOT materials Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT. All rights reserved. Sat, 25 May 2013 01:27:17 PDT Sat, 25 May 2013 01:27:17 PDT http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/images/merlot.gif http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ 44 34 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=75744 This is a lesson plan to illustrate the concept of market share and market power through a linked article. The plan helps students learn to 1) explain the concept of market share and what it means to competitors in business and to consumers ; 2) explain why measures of market share are often somewhat arbitrary; 3) identify different concepts of "monopoly" and evaluate their usefulness; and 4)discuss reasons why large-scale production may be an advantage or a disadvantage to a business firm. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=84548 This lesson concerns the interrelated concepts of scarcity, choice, and costs. The objectives are to Define the opportunity cost of a decision as the most valued discarded option and Analyze trade-offs involved in making spending decisions. Although designed for high school students, it could be used in a freshman level economics class. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=78394 Through interactive graphs, ThinkEconomics illustrates basic economic principles that are taught in a college-level introductory economics course. These graphs enable students to develop analytic and deductive reasoning skills by manipulating graphical elements of the economic models. Students also learn how to apply these models to analyze and understand economic phenomena. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=84534 The purpose of this module is to provide students access to easily understood, timely interpretations of monthly announcements of rate of change in prices in the U.S. economy; descriptions of major issues surrounding the data announcements; brief analyses of historical perspectives; questions and activities to use to reinforce and develop understanding of relevant concepts; and a list of publications and resources that may benefit classroom teachers and students interested in exploring inflation. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=84531 In this lesson plan, students will learn to Explain why collectibles are a high-risk investment option; Explain how supply and demand affect the value of collectibles; Identify collectibles they believe will increase in value; and Offer advice to a person who is interested in collecting for a profit. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=75745 This lesson plan includes a link to an article for students to read. The purpose of the plan is for students 1) to investigate economic goals such as the goals of increased living standards and increases in jobs; 2) to analyze the opportunity cost principle behind job creation; and 3) to engage in a simulation about finding jobs, and experience the ?invisible hand ?in action as it allocates labor where it is most desired. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=75746 This lesson plan and its linked article help students to understand the basic incentive structure economic systems provide. Students will 1) engage in a simulation that demonstrates the ?Tragedy of the Commons?; 2) understand that different incentives create different results in the economy; and 3) explain how an economic system based on private ownership and free markets provides incentives to manage resources wisely and creates better likelihood of prosperity. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=90355 This site shows how to develop a budget. Students enter expected earnings (based on a variety of positions) and then are prompted for approximate expenses for fixed items (rent, etc) and variable expenses (miscellaneous spending). The list of possible expenses is quite long and students can learn to ppreciate the costs of living and the necessity for trimming expenses. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=84533 Students are proposed the question, "How can modern men and women provide for the needs and wants of the world's growing population while holding destruction of our productive resources to a minimum?" Students will learn about two hotly debated approaches to this problem: the Coase Theorem and the Pigouvian tax method. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=84530 In this lesson plan, students will learn the concepts of Deflation, Inflation and Opportunity cost. Through deciding to learn to fly, students also will investigate various job opportunities.