Dec 09 2009
Lesson Plan: Visualizing Economic Growth and Economic Development
Published by Jason Welker at 3:39 pm under Development,Lesson Plan
Essential Question: How does economic development differ from economic growth?
Objective: Whereas most assignments deal in information and analysis, this one deals in imagination. Here we ask you to portray what you believe more economically developed countries look like. And considering that development is a relative term, we also want to see how a country could end up if it only achieves economic growth, without any progress on development.
Goal: To visualize and depict the distinction between economic development and economic growth.
Process:
- Class is divided into pairs, each pair is either an “A” or a “B” pair. A groups will focus on Economic Growth and group B groups on Economic Development
- Read chapter 30 of the Course Companion with special attention to your assigned section.
- A groups will focus on pages 321-325 on “Economic Growth” and “Consequences of Economic Growth”
- B groups will focus on pages 325-328 “Sources of Economic Development”
- Using PhotoStory, create a slideshow depicting the situation you were assigned (either “growth” or “development”). For an example of a PhotoStory, quickly watch this one on the Dust Bowl. Here is a tutorial from Microsoft on how to quickly start making your slideshow in PhotoStory.
- Save images to a folder on your computer, then import them into a PhotoStory when you are ready to start creating your slideshow.
- Add subtitles and/0r your own narration to your PhotoStory. If you wish, you can add music to your PhotoStory as well.
- Be sure to include at least ten images in your slideshow.
As you and your partner gather images online, keep in mind the definitions of growth and development. Images should portray these definitions in a creative way.
About the author: Jason Welker teaches International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement Economics at Zurich International School in Switzerland. In addition to publishing various online resources for economics students and teachers, Jason developed the online version of the Economics course for the IB and is has authored two Economics textbooks: Pearson Baccalaureate’s Economics for the IB Diploma and REA’s AP Macroeconomics Crash Course.
Jason is a native of the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and is a passionate adventurer, who considers himself a skier / mountain biker who teaches Economics in his free time. He and his wife keep a ski chalet in the mountains of Northern Idaho, which now that they live in the Swiss Alps gets far too little use. Read more posts by this authorRelated posts:
- Lesson Plan: Sources of Economic Growth and Development
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- Does economic growth = economic development? Not for China’s rural poor…
- Introduction to Economic Development – Myths about Development, debunked
- IB: Economic development and fertility rates in India
A great idea. I found the group assignment to be confusing to read.
I'm assuming the group structure is two people per PhotoStory presentation. One member of the group is an "A" (focus is on the Growth part of the text) while the other person is a "B" (focus is on the Development part of the text).
"A" people read about Growth. "B" people read about Development. (After reading) They share their knowledge and discuss differences.
The groups each plan their presentation – perhaps create a story board with the kinds of images they would show (if Internet is down, or students lack PhotoStory skills, this might be an acceptable alternative end to this part of the activity.)
Armed with a plan, a deadline, and a shared vision, the two members search for the images they need.
In another session, each group sits down to compose their photostory and do the music/voice production.
10 images are required – no more than five minutes – leave the audience wanting more!
Each pair presents their final work to the class.
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