The Effect of Economic Education Summer Institutes for Teachers on the Achievement of Their Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect, if any, of a teacher education seminar stressing economic concepts and methodology on the level of understanding in economics held by the students of the participants.The Economic Education Institute at Auburn University hosted two 2-week seminars during three summer sessions. Each was offered to secondary level teachers of social studies, business education, and home economics for five quarter hours of graduate credit. The Beginning Institute primarily stressed microeconomics, while the Advanced Institute stressed macroeconomic concepts.Upon completion of the Institute programs, a randomly chosen intact class of students of participants and selected matching teachers were administered two economics tests. The scores indicate that students of participants have a significantly higher level of understanding in economics than students of nonparticipating teachers.