ECON201 - Macroeconomics - Peter de Luca
| Course: | Macroeconomics |
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| Professor: | Peter de Luca |
| Email: | peter.deluca@Canyons.edu |
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| Course Length: |
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Introduction
I graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a B.A. in Economics and then much later in life earned an M.B.A at Keller Graduate School of Management.
I have been teaching at the college level for 40 years. I have taught economics at DeVry University, at many colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District, and here at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita.
I teach mostly at Pierce Community College. Since 2008, I have taught over 600 online class instances for DeVry, Pierce and Corinthean College. In 2009, I was voted “Online instructor of the year” at Corinthean Colleges. In 2011, I coached the Taft High School Academic Decathlon team in economics and they finished third in the state.
Course Description
ECON 201 introduces the concepts and tools of macroeconomic analysis, especially as they apply to US economy. Emphasis is placed on the broad overall performance of our economic system with concentration in areas such as national income determination, employment, and inflation. ECON 201 develops a logical analysis of business fluctuations in the economy and introduces 20th century governmental fiscal possible solutions and monetary policies solutions to them. The course will also include 19th century macroeconomic solutions as well. History tells us what works and what does not work to create a successful economy. It is important that the course include different schools of thought on how to solve economic problems.
What to Expect in this Course
Communication with me:
I usually respond to your email questions quickly sometimes within a matter of minutes. It all depends on if I am at my computer. If you need a deeper explanation on some of the topics in the course, we can arrange a phone session. I am also able to set up Zoom sessions to help one or more students with the material during my office hour or at a time convenient for all of us.
Course Structure:
I made my own video lectures for the chapters covered in the course and they are embedded in the course in Canvas. My video lectures do discuss the material in the textbook and also cover material that is not in the textbook. My quizzes are based on the material in the Stephen Slavin textbook and from my video lectures.
Each chapter covered in the course will have a chapter PowerPoint presentation, my own chapter video lecture that is closed captioned, the chapter workbook from the textbook, the solutions to the chapter workbook, a chapter Practice Quiz (worth points), and a chapter Testing Quiz.
Types of Assessments
Practice Quizzes:
Each chapter covered in this course has a chapter “practice quiz.” You can do the chapter practice quiz as many times as you wish. They are all open book and open notes. They are worth points.
Each chapter practice quiz will prepare you for the chapter “testing quiz” and the midterm and final exams. I provide my own mini-lecture feedback comments for the multiple choice questions in the practice quizzes. The key to doing well in this course is to do the practice quizzes earnestly. That means NOT rushing through them. Take your time with them.
Testing Quizzes:
There is a chapter “testing quiz” for each chapter. Each is open book and open notes. But there are time limits and closing dates that you must keep track of. Except for the first quiz on supply and demand, you can only take a Testing Quiz once.
The chapter testing quizzes will be proctored by Proctorio. Proctorio is a software product that will record you taking your testing quizzes. You will need a web camera on your computer. If you don’t have a web camera, you can buy one for $20 at Best Buy. I only use Proctorio to make sure that it is you that is taking your exam. The Testing Quizzes will prepare you for your midterm and final exams.
Midterm Exam:
The midterm exam will cover chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9. It will be a closed book test. It will be proctored by Proctorio. But I will provide a formula sheet for you and a study guide. It will be given in two parts on two different dates. The first part will cover chapters 4, 5, & 6. The second part will cover chapters 7 & 9. Giving it in two parts makes it easier for you to study for the midterm. It will give you an opportunity to score higher on the exam.
If your midterm exam score is higher than a quiz score that the midterm exam covered, I will then replace your chapter Testing Quiz score with your midterm exam score. But there are exceptions. The syllabus will explain this policy in more detail once you are in the course.
Final Exam:
The final exam will cover chapters 13, 14, 10, 11, 12 & 19.
It will be given in two parts on two different dates. Final Part 1 will cover chapters 13, 14, and 10 and Final Part 2 will cover 11, 12, & 19. Giving it in two parts makes it easier for you to study for the midterm. It will give you an opportunity to score higher on the exam.
It will also cover material that is not in the book that I have provided with documents I have written and discussed in my video lectures.
The final will be a closed book test. But I will provide a formula sheet for you and a study guide. It will be proctored by Proctorio.
If your final exam score is higher than your chapter Testing Quiz score that the final exam covered, I will then replace your Testing Quiz score with your final exam score. But there are exceptions. The syllabus will explain this policy in more detail once you are in the course.
Textbook Information
The book will be Macroeconomics by Stephen Slavin. It can be any version from the 9th on. You can buy the book on Amazon.com at very low prices. Getting the 9th edition shouldn’t cost you more than 10 to 15 dollars. Because the course is only eight weeks, I suggest you have it shipped over night or in a few days. Be sure it is MACRO economics. But I will provide the first three chapters in the course in Canvas. You only need to download them.
Some of the material I provide in the course that you will be responsible for in your chapter quizzes and midterm and final exams will be outside of the book. I will send you that material and let you know what I will require you to know. Most of that material will be presented to you later in the course after the midterm.
Other Relevant Course Information
No
Additional Resources
Canvas
This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:
- CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
- CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password
Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.
Online Education
Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.
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Last updated: 10/26/2021 Sub#: 211