Jadrian Wooten
Economics Educator
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Principles of Economics
(Micro) for Econ Majors
Virginia Tech
Welcome to the Course!
With the start of the semester approaching, I wanted to share some important information about course expectations before the first day of class. My goal with this list is to ensure that you are familiar with those expectations and to put you at ease before classes officially begin.​
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You will have access to a dedicated Canvas course a few days before the semester begins. There will be an orientation module in that course that offers more details about how to purchase access to the different platforms we'll use, assignment instructions, and official course policies. Even though I'll mention some course material below, you don't need to purchase anything before the first day of classes. Once you arrive on campus, allocate some time to getting the course material. I'll post an official announcement in Canvas (which will likely end up in your email inbox) when our Canvas course is unlocked and ready for you to access.
Econ 2005
Course Site
10 things you should know before the semester begins:
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Majors Only Section: This section of ECON 2005 differs from other sections offered at Virginia Tech because you are enrolled with all the other incoming economics majors. We'll cover the same material as other sections, but we'll explore the material in a slightly different way given your background and interest in the subject. By offering a standalone section, you'll have the opportunity to work with other students you'll see in later courses at Tech.
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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 do my best to keep those roles separated, so that you know whether I'm emailing you about class or about your major. Regardless of the "hat" I'm wearing, I hope you know that I'm here to help you succeed. There are a lot of great opportunities to build a unique experience at Tech, but I hope you trust yourself to take advantage of those opportunities.
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Class Preparation Expectations: The section you're enrolled in will include more active learning than other sections offered this upcoming semester. We'll dedicate our class time to working on solving problems and participating in simulations. I will ask you to spend some time each week making sure you're prepared to have those conversations. 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.
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In-Person Format: Most of our class meetings this semester will be held in person and will not be offered virtually. There may be a few times during the semester when we can't meet in person, but I'll provide an asynchronous video lesson that you can complete on your own time. All graded assignments in the course are completed online, but a portion of your exam scores will be based on activities and discussions that only happen in class.
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Attendance and Participation: Active class participation is important to learning, and it will also contribute to your final grade. We'll use the iClicker Cloud platform to help keep class interactive. We will use the iClicker Cloud app for interactive participation during class time. Unlike some of your other courses, physical iClicker remotes will not work in our class. However, iClicker Cloud access is included with purchases of new physical remotes. Alternatively, you can purchase a 6-month digital subscription at a lower cost. You’ll need a laptop, phone, or tablet to participate in these interactive assignments.
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Assignment Weighting: Instead of relying on a few high-stakes exams during the semester, this course uses multiple weekly assignments to reinforce learning. It's really important that you stay ahead of due dates. Staying on top of due dates is critical. The Canvas calendar does not always list everything, so use a planner to stay organized.
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Connect Platform: Your textbook, homework, and exams will all be hosted on McGraw-Hill's Connect platform. The bookstore offers an access code, but marks it up by about 25%. You can purchase access directly from the publisher's website. You will be able to register and pay for your Connect account once our Canvas course officially opens.
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Saving on Books & Course Material: Even though our course doesn't have a physical textbook, I want to make sure you're aware that most class material can be purchased online for a lot cheaper than campus bookstores. Before buying anything for your courses, check to see if older editions work for your other professors. Amazon offers a student version of Amazon Prime, which provides several benefits and 3-day shipping of items directly to your dorm.
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Canvas as Hub: We will use multiple online platforms this semester, but Canvas is the central hub for most course materials and announcements. I recommend configuring your Canvas preferences for daily digests and setting up email forwarding if you don’t regularly check your VT email. When you register for class-related sites, be sure to always use your VT email so that your grades sync correctly. This is true for all your courses!
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Technological Concerns: Technical issues happen to all of us, and our course has accommodations already built into the grading for occasional problems. As such, no late work or make-up assignments will be given. If you run into technical issues during the semester, there are public computers on campus, or you can rent a laptop from the library.
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I’m passionate about economics and education, and I bring that energy to every class. I also write a weekly newsletter connecting economics to current events and pop culture. You are welcome (but not required) to follow my social media accounts for additional insights or discussions outside of class.
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I am really looking forward to the upcoming semester, and I hope you enjoy your next few months with me as your instructor!