Abstract

The selection of teaching tools is a key determinant of the extent to which the anticipated learning outcomes of a course will be realized. As such, choosing optimal teaching tools can be a greatly effective course of action to enhance learning in the classroom. As Terregrossa et al. (2009) point out, “it is ironic that the practitioners of the discipline devoted to the study of efficiency principles [i.e. economics] are implicitly accused of being inefficient in their approach to teaching that discipline.” The purpose of the present paper is to first explain cognitive learning outcomes as well as review both traditional and modern teaching tools in the context of economics. Next, the appropriate teaching tools that match correspondingly with each specific cognitive learning outcome are proposed in the setting of teaching economics. To this end, the paper concentrates on Benjamin Bloom’s (1956) taxonomy of cognitive domains to describe different cognitive learning levels. Then, a diverse set of teaching tools suitable to teach economics are corresponded to different cognitive learning outcomes. More specifically, the present paper aims to introduce different teaching tools - including course formats, major teaching methods, and teaching moves - corresponding to different levels of cognitive domain in the context of teaching economics. Finally, it is argued that economics instructors should select teaching tools as well as contents, readings, in-class activities, assignments, and assessment formats after formulating the learning outcomes of the course, so that the teaching tools selected can facilitate students’ learning and help them achieve the anticipated learning outcomes more readily.

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