Technology firmly entrenched in UW-Stevens Point’s economics curriculum

Larry Weiser grew up in Chicago watching the technology of the day--black and white television. Today he is an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), incorporating a major component of the current technological revolution, the World Wide Web, into his classes.

"For an economist, the Web has been nothing short of a revolutionary transformation for those in economic education," said Weiser. "What once took me hours of preparation and research in a library can now be accomplished in a few minutes on the Web. And I am not alone, many of my colleagues across the nation and world are also embracing the Web as an integral part of their curriculum."

Weiser teaches the principles of economics, poverty and welfare, as well as international economics. The Web allows his students to access local, state, federal and international Web sites. From Congress to Cambodia, the students can access raw economic data and most sites update the information on a regular basis. According to Weiser, not only are the students learning economics, but also history and geography, as well as improving research and computer skills.

"Studying the census is a classic example of how the Web has changed my classroom instruction," said Weiser. "The Web allows students to learn economics in the context of current events such as the census or the World Trade Organization and sweatshop labor issues. These subjects have been brought to life in my classroom thanks in large measure to the Web."

In Weiser’s international economics class, students must obtain information on export/import patterns for several different countries. In addition, they are asked to find U.S. trade deficit information on the country’s major trading partners, including China, Europe, Canada and Mexico. The Web allows students to research these questions, as well as find current exchange rates for foreign currencies.

Recently, Weiser was awarded a $12,000 grant from the Wisconsin Council on Economic Education. The grant will allow him to spend part of the coming fiscal year developing statewide programming for the council.

In 1999 Weiser co-authored a chapter on economic education in the book, "Surfing Social Studies: The Internet Book," published by the National Council for the Social Studies. In this book he stresses the use of the Web in both curriculum development and actual classroom instruction.

Students need only to visit his Web site, "Professor Weiser’s Links," at www.wisecon.org/bkmklw.htm in order to connect with a world of economic information.

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