UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 25, Page 2
March 23, 1995
Economics center encourages real-world learning

     Economics is challenging, develops critical thinking skills and
is relevant to everyone's life and work, according to James B.
O'Neill, director of the Center for Economic Education and
Entrepreneurship (CEEE), and teachers are the major players in
promoting economics education.
     "The center's first goal is to motivate teachers and to interest
them and inform them about economics and help them incorporate
economics into the classroom," O'Neill said.
     CEEE offers workshops and seminars to give teachers an overview
of economics and related topics. For example, a series of seminars
this year for Delaware teachers covered such areas as economic
development in Delaware and the economics of poverty and welfare. A
workshop, "Teaching Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs," was offered this month
in cooperation with the Delaware School to Work program.
     "The center's second goal is to train teachers. Frequently,
teachers become interested in economics after a workshop, and they
enroll in one of our courses," O'Neill said.
     A total of 723 Delaware in-service teachers attended 42 programs,
including seminars and graduate courses this past year.
     The cornerstone of the center's educational program is its
master's degree in economics education and entrepreneurship, an
innovative program in the College of Business and Economics that
attracts teachers from across the country, including Delaware. The
program teaches participants basic economics and encourages the
inclusion of economics in the daily curriculum.
     The third part of the center's program for teachers is
reinforcement, according to O'Neill, with materials, support and
advice offered to teachers. CEEE has a resource center that is well-
used, and O'Neill and Bonnie Meszaros, associate director, also visit
public and private school classrooms periodically. A newsletter also
keeps teachers informed about CEEE activities.
     Among the CEEE programs for elementary and high school students
are "EconomicsAmerica" for all grades, which incorporates economics
into other subjects; "Econ & Me," a series of videos for elementary
school students; and "Choices and Changes," designed for at-risk
students in grades 3-9, to make them aware of the economic
opportunities in their future.
     Hands-on learning is the name of the game for students, with
participation in such economics-related activities as the Stock Market
Game and Mini-Society and involvement in entrepreneurial projects
where a product is developed, produced and marketed. One elementary
school houses a branch of a local bank, where students learn about
money and finance, and, in cooperation with another bank, Money$mart
is being offered at 10 Delaware high schools to teach students about
budgeting, investing and checking.
     The center sponsors competitions, such as the Meaningful Econmics
Competition, held last June with 54 teams from all over the state
competing.
     Another part of CEEE's mission involves classes for preservice
teachers in economics. A total of 79 undergraduates attended classes
offered by the center last year.
     The center's focus is on helping teachers and students become
better informed on and aware of economic issues, such as world trade,
Social Security and the minimum wage that have an impact on everyone,
O'Neill said.
     Encouraging entrepreneurship is another facet of the program.
Wilmington teacher Ronni Cohen, who has strong links with the center,
received the Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year award last year.
     CEEE is affiliated with the Delaware Council for Economic
Education, which, in turn, is part of the National Council on Economic
Education. There are 275 centers for economic education nationwide.
                                                   -Sue Swyers Moncure