Greetings I'm Gary Walton, President of the Foundation for Teaching Economics. We at the foundation are delighted to bring you this online course. Economics Online for Teachers, is the first of its kind designed especially for High School Teachers. Its ten lessons are carefully crafted to raise your understanding of economics and the use of economic reasoning principles, and more importantly to impart that understanding and use to your students. In addition to the ten lessons, it showcases eight activities to do with your students to motivate their learning and interest in economics and give them a chance to apply the economic reasoning principles. The curriculum has a long and proven record of success. It is derived from the foundation's highly popular Economics for Leaders programs. These week-long programs have been given since 1991. In 1999, we gave eighteen of these programs throughout the United States and in Central Europe. Over the years we have met in retreats with teachers, professors, professionals to critique and review and improve and strengthen the curriculum. It has been become so influential that it serves as the basis for the twenty national voluntary content standards in economics and it's influenced the states and school districts adoptions of standards throughout the United States. Any person who can teach this curriculum stands on very solid ground to meet State or school district standards. And more importantly it gives teachers the chance to empower their students with economic reasoning principles to understand how markets work and commercial societies function and it will strengthen their decision making skills in many walks of life - whether it be as a parent, a citizen, a leader, or participant in a commercial society. The professors and the teachers that you will see and hear and work with throughout the course are among the very very best in the nation. It's with a great deal of pleasure that I welcome you to Economics Online for Teachers.
