This is an adaptive credit recovery course, in which students will complete a pretest for each module, and will be exempted from activities for topics where mastery is demonstrated. This type of credit recovery course targets individual areas of need in the curriculum and minimizes repetition of content where students have demonstrated their understanding.
This course introduces the principles and the applications of economics in everyday life. Students develop an understanding of limited resources and compare it with unlimited wants and needs. Students learn how individual and national economic decisions are made to allocate goods and services among competing users. Students apply economic principles to think and problem solve. The study of Economics uses the view of economic institutions and policies to explore the history, organization, and functions of the U.S. government in controlling our economy. It offers students learning opportunities that build one on another.
A goal of the course is for the student to develop the critical skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation in a demanding and thoughtful academic setting. Students are encouraged to use their knowledge of the policies and institutions of economics to develop their own views on current economic and monetary issues. They are taught how to apply what they have learned into personal financial activities. The course looks closely at the economic knowledge and values of the country and gives students a look into the problems faced by presidents and congressional representatives. It also covers the roles of political activists, political parties, interest groups, and the media in shaping the U. S. economy. The Supreme Court is presented as the voice of reason in the balance of powers. Students are encouraged to perform at higher levels as they are presented with historical documents and additional readings, work with a set of facts arranged by theme, become skillful in note-taking, and join in student discussions. Students develop and demonstrate their writing skills by preparing extended research-based papers.
Major topics include:
Basic Economic Concepts
Supply and Demand
Public and Private Sectors
Macro Measures of the Economy and the Business Cycle
Money and the Federal Reserve System
Surpluses, Deficits, Debt, and International Trade
Students learn through online lesson activities, videos, and interactive activities. Each module begins with a pretest, proceeds to lessons that conclude with a brief self-check, and wraps with a module exam. The course concludes with a cumulative exam.
This course uses content from Accelerate Education taught by a VHS Learning instructor who is certified in their content area and who follows VHS Learning policies. The course will be hosted in the Buzz learning management system. Students may spend 60 hours completing this course, though actual time-spent will vary based on individual student performance in module pretests.
Credit recovery courses do not meet initial eligibility requirements for NCAA. Students who require flexible courses meeting initial eligibility requirements should consider VHS Learning self-paced courses, which can be found in the VHS Learning Catalog. Course Essential Questions:
What is Economics?
How do economic institutions and policies impact individual everyday decision-making?
What role does the government play in regulating the national economy?
Course Learning Objectives:
- Compare and contrast economic systems and define specific traits of each.
- Recognize and differentiate the characteristics of market systems.
- Synthesize the concepts of supply and demand.
- Define and recall the three basic macroeconomic goals and how we measure each.
- Identify and recall the function of money.