Econ 201B - 9 Week Course
Principles of Microeconomics
Welcome to Econ 201B!
My name is Tanya Downing and I will be your instructor for the course. Please read this page carefully. Further and more detailed information will be given with the syllabus and orientation materials (available on the course Moodle site.)
COURSE and CONTACT INFORMATION
Start Date: Semester begins January, 2017 - this course begins March 20th.
Course meets (with the exception of the final exam) 100% online for 9 weeks
Instructor: Tanya Downing
Email (the best and fastest way to reach me): tdowning@cuesta.edu (Except for exceptionally busy times in the semester, email turn around is 24 hours.)
Phone: (805)776-3056 (accepts texts)
Office hours: Room 4314 on San Luis Obispo campus
First Steps:
Please do the following before the start date of this course:
1. Go to Cuesta's distance education support materials page. You can access Cuesta's distance education support materials here.
2. View the FAQ and FAQ-Technical pages which provide some assistance with the technical side of distance education (for ex. suggested minimum system requirements, how to get technical assistance, etc.) Be certain that you have the minimum technological requirements for this mode of learning.
3. Take the Survey and For Whom? assessments at the site. These support materials will help you determine whether online is best for you (before you find out the hard way.)
1. Go to Cuesta's distance education support materials page. You can access Cuesta's distance education support materials here.
2. View the FAQ and FAQ-Technical pages which provide some assistance with the technical side of distance education (for ex. suggested minimum system requirements, how to get technical assistance, etc.) Be certain that you have the minimum technological requirements for this mode of learning.
3. Take the Survey and For Whom? assessments at the site. These support materials will help you determine whether online is best for you (before you find out the hard way.)
Technical Requirments
I realize this is stating the obvious, but you must have access to a computer, an email account, speaker or headset, and a reliable Internet connection. You must have a backup plan should your system or your Internet provider fail - technological problems related to me, Moodle or to myCuesta I can help solve - but issues outside of these areas will be up to you to solve. It is essential that you understand the basic concepts of email; web navigation; computer security including firewalls, cookies, trusted sites; Microsoft Word and Excel; adobe PDF; simple video creation and uploads to YouTube - no graphic design required but comfort with PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. is needed; and online communication, to succeed in this course.
Nature of Course
This course is conducted on the Moodle platform (you will also access the publisher's ebook and homework system through Moodle.) The course schedule, grading summary, and structure specifics can be found in the syllabus. The syllabus can be found in the Welcome area of the course Moodle site, at the course website in MyCuesta, and will be emailed to you during the week before the start of class. Print out and read the course syllabus, as this is where answers to most of the questions pertaining to the course structure can be found.
student readiness and time requirements
You can expect to spend 18-20 hours per week on this course. As with most other online courses you will need to:
- Know how to access Moodle, the course ebook and homework site. (Ebook and homework site registration instructions are included in syllabus.)
- Learn effectively through reading, video lecture, and online discussion forums
- Be able to upload: Word or PDF documents and videos; and create URL links
- Be comfortable following instructions to research online
- Be comfortable with timed and untimed, online assignments and assessments
If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class, please contact Disable Student Programs and Services (DSPS) in building 3300 on the San Luis Obispo campus as soon as possible to ensure that you receive accommodations in a timely manner. Their website can be reached here.
Textbook
This course uses an ebook and online homework manager: registration for these materials requires a fee and will be completed through a course-specific link provided at the beginning of the semester. A hard copy of the textbook is not required, however, if you'd like to preview the textbook, we'll use:
Principles of Microeconomics, 20th Edition by McConnell, Brue and Flynn
A loose-leaf copy of the text with access code to the ebook and homework manager can be purchased from the Cuesta bookstore.
Principles of Microeconomics, 20th Edition by McConnell, Brue and Flynn
A loose-leaf copy of the text with access code to the ebook and homework manager can be purchased from the Cuesta bookstore.
Course Description and Student Learning Outcomes
This course presents introductory concepts pertaining to choices of individual economic decision-makers. Topics include scarcity, specialization and trade, market equilibrium, consumer demand, elasticity, production and cost theory, market structures, factor markets, market failure, and international trade. Prerequisite: MATH 123. Advisory: MATH 127. Transfer: CSU; UC. Transfer.
Student learning outcomes include:
Student learning outcomes include:
- Define scarcity, and show how it relates to the concepts of choice and cost.
- Utilize the demand and supply model to critically analyze real world examples.
- Evaluate consumer behavior and its impact on the demand curve.
- Define and apply the concepts of elasticity.
- Use microeconomic models to illustrate how prices and output are determined in various market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly).
- Define economic efficiency and compare the implications for economic efficiency under different market structures.
- Explain the economic behavior of individual firms in the short run and long run.
- Explain the role of prices in allocating goods, services and factors of production.
- Outline the role of international trade and finance including comparative advantage in exchange.
Cuesta Moodle Site login information
Go to the Cuesta Moodle site: http://moodle.cuesta.edu and login:
- The Login name matches your my.cuesta login name: firstname_lastname.
- The Default Moodle password is: Changeme1. You will be forced to change your password the first time you login.
- If you have any technical problems, please email support@my.cuesta.edu for assistance. (Do not email me regarding tech issues with moodle, as I do not have the specific expertise to offer technical support.)
- Once you have a Moodle account, you can be added to the course Moodle site by your instructor on the first day of classes.
Cuesta Policies
Each student is required to follow all school guidelines and comply with all school deadlines including personal responsibility for adding and/or dropping this class. The link to college-wide policies is here. Each student is responsible for obtaining updates or changes to the syllabus and/or assignments for the course - any changes will be posted to the announcements section of the class Moodle site.
Additionally, this course has a zero tolerance policy for Academic Dishonesty. Please see the school website and refer to the Student Code of Conduct for clarification. Authentication of your identity will be conducted through the use of the course Learning Management System, Moodle. Moodle requires unique and secure student login and password to access it. Additionally, some assignments will require video or picture authentication.
Your instructor will provide regular and effective contact through weekly instructor initiated discussion forums; weekly instructor-created videos; timely and effective feedback on assignments; email, phone, messaging and/or announcements to individuals and the class; and office hours.
Additionally, this course has a zero tolerance policy for Academic Dishonesty. Please see the school website and refer to the Student Code of Conduct for clarification. Authentication of your identity will be conducted through the use of the course Learning Management System, Moodle. Moodle requires unique and secure student login and password to access it. Additionally, some assignments will require video or picture authentication.
Your instructor will provide regular and effective contact through weekly instructor initiated discussion forums; weekly instructor-created videos; timely and effective feedback on assignments; email, phone, messaging and/or announcements to individuals and the class; and office hours.
COLLEGE SUPPORT SERVICES
If you have a physical, mental, or learning disability that requires any special accommodations, please contact Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the accommodations in a timely manner. I will be happy to work with the accommodations to support you through DSPS.
Tutorial services are provided free of charge to students. You may contact them at (805)546-3150 for further information.
For the library services list, including learning research and assistance, please use this link: Library and Learning Resources
For Veterans' services, click this link (and thank you.)
Tutorial services are provided free of charge to students. You may contact them at (805)546-3150 for further information.
For the library services list, including learning research and assistance, please use this link: Library and Learning Resources
For Veterans' services, click this link (and thank you.)