Jadrian Wooten

10 things you should know before the semester begins:

1. Majors Only Section: This section of ECON 2005 differs significantly from other sections offered at Virginia Tech because you are enrolled in a section with only other economics majors. Because you're already interested in the subject, we'll instead explore the topic in more depth than other sections. I hope to explore some more complicated topics so that you're better prepared for future econ courses.
    

2. Dual Roles: You will receive a lot of emails from me throughout the semester as your instructor for ECON 2005, but also as the Director of the Undergraduate Program. I will do my best to keep those roles clearly separated, but just know that I'm here to see you succeed in this class and in the major. There are a lot of great opportunities to build a stellar resume while you're here, but it means trusting yourself to take chances.
    

3. Class Preparation Expectations: This section includes more outside reading and activities than other sections so that we can spend our class time focused on problem-solving and simulations. We cover the same topics as other sections of ECON 2005 but in a different way. Keep in mind that Virginia Tech expects you to spend around 6 hours each week working on material related to our course in addition to the 3 hours we spend together each week. 
    

4. In-Person Format: Most of our meetings this semester will be held in person, and will not be recorded or offered over Zoom. There may be a few days during the year when I need to be away, and those lectures will be provided online. The majority of your graded assignments will be completed online, but a significant portion of your final grade comes from daily quiz questions and activities we do in class.
    

5. Attendance and Participation: Active class participation is important and contributes to a portion of your final grade. We'll use the iClicker Cloud platform to help keep the class interactive. Your homework platform (Achieve) will include access to iClicker Cloud. The physical iClicker remotes won't work with our course. You will be able to register for iClicker Cloud once our course officially opens on Canvas
    

6. Assignment Weighting: Instead of a couple of exams worth a large percentage of your overall grade, our course emphasizes weekly small-stakes assignments. It's important to keep track of due dates throughout the semester and avoid relying heavily on the Canvas calendar. Now is a great time to get into the habit of using a simple planner to keep track of your busy schedule.
    

7. Connect Platform: Your textbook, homework, and exams will all be hosted on McGraw Hill's Connect platform. The bookstore will offer an access code, but you can get it for much cheaper by purchasing it directly from the publisher's website. Connect access costs around $95 when you purchase it from McGraw Hill compared to $155 at the campus bookstore. Your access includes a digital copy of the textbook, but you can also purchase a used copy of an older edition on Amazon if you prefer. You will be able to register and pay for your Connect account once our Canvas course officially opens, but you should purchase a physical copy of the book before classes start if you would a physical copy. 
    

8. Saving on Books & Course Material: If you're searching for books for your courses, you can often find them online at significantly lower prices than the campus bookstore. For most classes, you can find used copies or older editions that work just as well as the new ones. Check with your other instructors to be sure! Amazon offers deep discounts, especially if you have an Amazon Prime Student account. You can even have packages shipped to your dorm.
    

9. Canvas as Hub: We'll use several different online platforms this semester, but you should consider Canvas as the central hub for all course-related information. I recommend configuring your Canvas preferences for daily digests, and consider setting up email forwarding for your VT email address if you want to use something else. You will need to use your VT email address when you set up your online accounts for Connect and iClicker so that your grades are synced with the Canvas gradebook each time I post grades.
    

10. Technological Concerns: The semester is long and there is a chance you'll run into technical issues during the semester that prevent you from completing an assignment. Given the structure (and size) of the course, there will not be any opportunities to make up assignments you miss during the semester. Nearly all of our assignments are completed online, which allows you to take advantage of a public computer on campus or rent a laptop from the library. 

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I'm incredibly passionate about economics and education. I will share that excitement with you every class, and I hope you bring similar energy to class when it comes to learning and wanting to be successful. I occasionally post class-related things you may find interesting on my social media accounts (LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and Instagram), and I even write a weekly newsletter that looks at how basic economic concepts can explain current events and pop culture. You are not required to follow me on any of those accounts, but you are welcome to interact with me on those platforms as much or as little as you're comfortable. 

 

I am really looking forward to the upcoming semester and I hope you enjoy your next few months with me as your instructor!