The Journal of Economics Teaching is dedicated to fostering an open, inclusive community where educators from K-12 to graduate levels can share and access valuable resources. Our commitment to open access ensures that every educator can explore and expand their knowledge of economics without barriers.
Our editor, Brian O’Roark, recently engaged in an enlightening Q&A session that was featured in a recent issue of the Teaching Resources for Economics at Community Colleges newsletter. Their conversation highlighted innovative teaching practices and how JET supports educators in implementing those ideas. We’ve reproduced the Q&A below with only slight formatting changes:
So would you like to talk a little bit about your background?
I went to Grove City College in Pennsylvania. I was originally a history major. In my junior year, I realized that job opportunities were slim to none in history, even with a Master’s degree! So, I took 8 economics classes in 3 semesters. After my undergraduate degree, I went to work in the finance sector. However, one evening I was listening to Walter Williams on the radio (an instructor at George Mason) and decided to apply to graduate school in economics. So a few months later I left finance behind to go to graduate school at George Mason University.
I can definitely relate to that in terms of “stumbling” into teaching, and I am sure a lot of other teachers feel the same way. So part of your economics journey has led you to become an editor at JET. Can you tell me what JET is all about?
The Journal of Economics Teaching (JET) was the brainchild of Dirk Mateer and became a reality in 2015 through a generous start-up grant from the Thomas R. Brown Foundation. It is a publication that focuses on effective teaching techniques. It provides readers of the journal with creative and useful sources for teaching economics. Here is the link to the website: https://journalofeconomicsteaching.org. At the bottom of the JET home page, you can find a link to subscribe to the JET substack issues.
Is it just for four-year college instructors?
I think that might be the initial perception. However, the journal has useful articles for K-12 educators as well as community college instructors. In fact, our Journal encourages lesson plan/ideas submissions from economics educators at every level. I think there is a hesitancy due to the fact that submitting something may not lead to an increase in pay, or the process might seem intimidating. If you were to browse through the issues though, you will find lessons that apply to every economics classroom.
You mentioned the intimidation factor. Does that also apply to publishing papers?
Yes, it does. I think it goes along with what I talked about with regard to JET submissions. I know there are a lot of creative educators out there who have really great ideas and topics that should be put into a paper. At JET, we’ll work with you to navigate the submission process.
So, if an instructor wants to publish a paper, why should they submit to JET? If I wanted to write a paper and go through JET, how would I do that?
A lot of journals do really great work. But we feel that our comparative advantage is communicating with instructors, and we want to guide you and encourage you. Our approach is collaborative as opposed to demonstrative. We want you to see “Your Name in Lights.”
With regards to publishing a paper, feel free to email me at oroark@rmu.edu and I would be more than happy to walk someone through the whole process. In fact, as part of our yearly JET SET conference, we have a session on publishing papers, where we try to inform people about the process.
Can you tell me more about the JET SET conference?
It's a fun conference, in the sense that attendees are there to learn how to teach more effectively. It is very low-pressure and very collaborative. If you remember the sitcom, Cheers? I guess you could say that JET SET is the economics version of the place where everybody knows your name. The conference moves around every year, so hopefully we’ll be in a town near you soon. We are currently accepting proposals for individual papers for the 2024 JET SET. All the information you need is found at: https://journalofeconomicsteaching.org/symposium/
And finally, some instructors love using food to teach economics. Others like to use Netflix shows or Broadway shows. What is in your arsenal of teaching ideas?
My passion is pop culture with a heavy emphasis on superheroes. What led me to focus on superheroes, was a student conversation about the show Green Arrow. But it looks like we’re out of time, so let’s leave on a cliffhanger… Dear reader, you will have to wait until the Fall edition of TRECC when we talk about what superheroes have to do with economics, and how that turned into a book about superheroes and teaching economics.
Why Open Access?
At JET, we believe that knowledge should be freely available to everyone, everywhere. Open access is not just a model for us; it's a movement towards creating a global community of shared ideas and resources. By removing access barriers, we empower educators around the world to achieve more in their classrooms.
Discounts for Community College Educators
We recognize the pivotal role that community colleges play in higher education. To support these essential institutions, we offer:
50% Discounts on JET SET Attendance: This conference is a fantastic opportunity for professional development and networking.
Reduced Paper Submission Fees: We encourage community college educators to share their innovative teaching methods and research with reduced submission fees.
Join Our Community
We are continuously inspired by the innovative ideas that come from educators at all levels of education. We invite you to submit your research, teaching methods, and insights to JET. Together, we can improve the landscape of economics education.