"The biggest adjustment [for students] is learning to keep up regularly," says Dr. McCrickard, who uses a popular computer program called Aplia (a system developed by an economist) to help ensure that students have consistent engagement with the course material. Through Aplia, the text is embedded online, so students can access it from any computer or mobile device. Aplia also allows Dr. McCrickard to assign 2-3 homework assignments per week and then analyze students' responses to address trends or concepts with which they are particularly struggling which present the biggest challenges.
Dr. McCrickard also constructs assignments and tests in ways which support the students' understanding of the course material, but also require them to engage in metacognition (thinking about how they think or learn). Students do a practice set of problems before the lecture during which the concept is covered, and after. This technique helps students isolate and understand particular areas in which they struggle, and gives them a clearer idea of how to proceed through them. In addition, when Dr. McCrickard notices difficulty with material--either with individual students or the class as a whole--she encourages them to keep working until they not only understand the material, but until they understand what elements of the material which present obstacles, and why: "I try to make them really assess what caused the points they lost on a test." By encouraging consistent contact with the material, as well as metacognitive analysis, Dr. McCrickard ensures that students invest themselves in their learning process.
Dr. McCrickard, along with many other BU professors, encourages students who struggle to come and see her personally. She recommends that students confer with professors about their struggles and, most importantly, follow the advice they give.
Clearly, Econ 111 challenges students, but Dr. McCrickard and the members of the Economics department here at BU (Dr. Fancis Raymond, Chair; Dr. Daniel Bauer; Dr. Robert Brown; Prof. Carl Hafele, MBA, CFA, CPA; and Dr. Bradley Stevenson) are ready to provide quality education and support for your student.
