I've created the WebPages below using a 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator. They are a little distorted because I wanted you to be able to view everything without scrolling over to the right. They were rather huge. To see the orginal big versions of the webpages check out my photo album. I enjoy using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop in my graphic design courses. I hope I can receive Adobe so I can do my homework at home.
Here is my blog on eLearning. It is an idea that has already been created but I have yet to see it come to my University. I’m talking about eBooks. The Economics course that I’m currently taking is listed on eCourses so my professor can post quizzes online. The other links on there remain blank though. I think it would be helpful to post textbook materials on the site as well.
Here are the problems I face with textbooks. First, I can only fit in my backpack what I need for the classes I have that day. So if I have Economics on Mondays and Wednesdays I cannot cram it in my bag on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Well sometimes I have some spare time on those days to do my econ during breaks between classes, but since I could not carry my book. I have to wait until I return back home to read the chapter. Time is wasted, and in college you do not want to waste time, it’s too valuable. The university has many computers available on campus. Had it been posted online I would be able to get a head in the course and maybe my back wouldn’t hurt so much from haling those things around.
Another problem with textbooks is that most students only have a small dorm or apartment in which to store all these textbooks. I should know. I have a whole bookshelf full of them that the bookstore wouldn’t sell back because they were going to start using a new edition.
Also if other students are like me, they don’t waste their time getting ripped off by the campus bookstore. The only problem with buying online is that you have to hope that the package arrives before classes start and you have to pay for shipping. With the eBook you would just download the file and be able to access it right after it was paid for. The cost would be lower for students as well.
Finally, how many trees are being cut down to produce all these textbooks? With the eBook students could just copy & paste what few notes they need and print them. The ebook is the textbook for the 21st century college student. It save time, it’s economical and environmentally friendly. Not to mention easier on the back.
Now let’s get started with the learning.
To begin go to the University’s home page and click on the eCourses link. Then log in and select the Economics link. You then come to the webpage below. Click on course material.
As you can see there is every chapter for the textbook available. Chapter 1 was easy so let’s click on Chapter 2.
Now you must select a section from within Chapter 2. Let’s check out Section 2.2, because believe me it’s the hardest.
These WebPages are just 2 pages of the textbook I have the joy of reading. Yay me! (sarcasm) I created a Figure 2.4 link on all the pages to use as a quick reference as you read through the section. It helps to fully understand the concept of the circular flows. Also I put the key words in bold to make it an easy read.
Did you learn something? Good! Get ready for your quiz on Wednesday then, lol. Ttyl.
~Ashley~
Sources: (graphics) Purdue University Calumet eCourses, (text) "Essential foundations of economics" Robin Bade 2009. p. 42-43