Odds and Ends

• I hope Gail and KimMarie don't hate me for using this picture but they should be very proud of the work they did putting together the International Handbook on Teaching and Learning Economics (disclosure: I worked with Gail and Steve Buckles on the chapter on large-enrollment courses). The book is a bit pricey for most people to keep on their personal shelves but you should definitely bug your library to make sure they have a copy!
  
• Speaking of Gail and KimMarie, they and Tisha Emerson are  co-organizing economic education sessions focused on innovative teaching practices at the 2012 Southern Economic Association (SEA) meetings. The Southerns will be November 16-18 (Friday-Sunday) in New Orleans, LA.  "Each session will be organized as a panel where each presenter will discuss innovative teaching practices they have employed.  More specifically, each panel session will have 5 – 6 presenters offering a 10-15 minute presentation of a new teaching technique or idea.  To accompany your presentation you will be asked to prepare a brief paper (3-4 pages in length) explaining the technique or idea you have implemented, the context of your innovation (school, class level, class size, etc.), and advice and instructions for others who might want to adopt your innovation.  The written summaries will be due one week before the conference. Submissions should include a title, brief description of the pedagogical innovation, and full contact information for the presenter (including name, affiliation, address, phone number, and emaill submissions should be sent to Gail Hoyt at ghoyt@uky.edu by no later than Monday, March 12."
• I haven't seen The Lorax yet but there is something about the economics of the original story that has always bugged me and Tim Haab sums it up nicely (by the way, if you haven't already seen it, this collection of literal Seuss titles is great!).
• I've never had a student directly say anything to me along the lines of 'I pay your salary' or otherwise suggesting they have 'bought' a particular grade simply by paying tuition but I recently read something (though sadly, I can't remember where) that I will file away to pull out if I am ever faced with such an idiotic sentiment: "You are paying for college much like you pay for a gym membership - your payment buys you access to the equipment but does not guarantee results. To get results, YOU must do the work."