Economics for Teachers (formerly known as Economics for Leaders*) represents a unique experience in economics education that brings together teachers looking to improve their teaching skills in economics. The week-long EFT program is rigorous and encompasses 50+ hours of instruction.
The goal of each EFT program is to provide teachers with lesson plans of simulations and activities, economics content instruction, and a networking opportunity with other teaching professionals. The combination of classroom instruction, question and answer sessions, small group discussion and workshops presents information in a rich and varied format, encouraging active participation. Economics professors selected nationwide for their expertise, along with skilled mentor teachers, provide content instruction and run simulations and activities that are designed to illustrate economic principles. Both new and experienced teachers will benefit from attending this program.
A feature of EFT that past participants have found especially useful is the demonstrations: the EFT staff model the activities and simulations with high school students. Teacher attendees gain direct experience with the lesson plans before they leave at the end of the week.
Learning has never been so easy, rewarding, or budget friendly:
- $600 participation and $150 commuter stipends available*
- A $150 registration fee covers single-occupancy room and board for the week with COVID-19 protocols on campus
- Choose from numerous sites and dates
- Approximately 20 teachers accepted per program
- Lodging, materials, and most meals covered by FTE – a value of over $1400.
- Correlated to all 50 state standards in economic education
- Based on Voluntary National Standards in Economic Education
- Nationally recognized professors and instructors
*To qualify for a stipend, participation or commuter, teachers must attend and actively participate in all sessions. There is no need to apply for a participation stipend.
Three semester hours of graduate credit in economics are available for $366 through the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Objectives: EFT focuses on how markets work
Participants learn that
- People respond to incentives
- Voluntary exchange provides mutual gains
- Profits attract entrepreneurs
- Competition encourages efficiency
- Private property rights are essential in free societies
- The fact of scarcity necessitates some form of rationing
- Opportunity cost is the real cost of what we choose
- Inflation depends on the money supply
- Choices can cause negative effects
- Economic change is inevitable
Morning Economics Seminars
- Allow teachers to observe outstanding economics instruction
- Encourage teachers to participate with students in simulations to take back to their own classrooms
Afternoon Workshops
- In-depth examination of economic concepts
- Question and answer sessions on the economic perspective of current events and issues
- Demonstration and debriefing of classroom activities
- Group work in developing new classroom activities
Evening Activities
- Opportunity to interact with outstanding high school students in joint teacher-student simulations
- Time to connect with colleagues
- Social and recreational activities
- Plenty of free time
* Economics for Teachers (EFT), formally known as Economics for Leaders (EFL), covers the same material as the EFL program and will not qualify for additional stipends or graduate credit for participants of previous EFL programs.