Description
This is a full-year course offered on Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET. Also, a Government and Economics full-year course meets on Tuesday, 11:00 a.m–12:00 p.m., or Thursday, 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET.
In this course, students complete the Economics half in the first semester and the Government half in the second semester.
Economics
The course introduces students to economic thinking. Students will begin to define economic concepts, understand why economists view the world through a particular lens, and analyze the economic interactions among people and businesses in society. A primary goal is for students to become familiar with foundational market concepts, including scarcity, opportunity cost, comparative advantage, and inflation. Students should then be able to appropriately apply their economic understanding to personal decisions, business activities, and government policies. The course focuses primarily on microeconomics but will also cover some macroeconomic concepts.
Honors Level
The honors level is designed for advanced students who wish to explore the topic in greater depth. The honors section will have one extra assignment per week. It may require more difficult reading and writing elements. Everything else (including quizzes) will remain the same.
Course Structure
The course will be very engaging, including group discussions and activities. Students are expected to contribute to class activities in the live classroom or via the class discussion board. Each student will also have weekly homework assignments that reinforce and extend the classroom discussions. Some examples of assignments include the following: running a virtual lemonade stand and identifying economic principles used, watching a video about minimum wage laws, making a government budget using certain economic and social goals, comparing the economic and government structures of two different countries in the world, playing a stock simulation game, and reading about the history of money and inflation. There is an estimated 3-4 hours of work per week outside of the live class. There is one quiz and assignment to be completed after the final live class session.
Here is a preview of some of the weekly topics:
- Scarcity, Resources, Opportunity Cost, Cost/Benefit Analysis
- Supply and Demand Shifts, Elasticity, Types of Goods
- Diminishing Returns, Allocation of Scarce Goods, Specialization
- Trade in Competitive Markets, Transaction Costs
- Understanding Economic Institutions (Banks, Corporations, Cooperatives, Labor unions), Rules of the Game
- The Role of Government in the Economy (Taxes, Externalities, Regulations)
- Nature and Causes of Money (Valuation, Historical Development, Inflation)
- Comparing Economic Systems (Market, Command, Traditional, Mixed)
- International Trade and Economic Growth
- Stocks and Investment Options (with a simulation stock buying opportunity)
Who should enroll?
This class is recommended for 9th-12th graders. Eighth graders are accepted if they demonstrate advanced study and a strong work ethic. The course is intended to fulfill the typical requirements for a half-year high school-level course.
Technology Requirements
- High-speed, broadband Internet
- Web cam, sound card, and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
Students will receive comments and individualized feedback on their assignments via Canvas. Work will be graded, and student questions will be addressed in a timely manner.
Communication
Parents do not need to contact me before registering for this class. I will confirm registration with parents and provide a welcome email to students. All parents should join Canvas as observers, and I will respond to any questions from parents.
Government
Why should a high school student study the US government? First, everyone in the United States will be granted the right to vote at age 18. Second, the growth of the national government has meant that the federal government increasingly influences more and more of our everyday decisions. Third, a variety of issues arise from Washington, DC, and the state capitals every day. To avoid being swayed by every passing fad, it is crucial that students understand why our political institutions exist. Lastly, an educated citizenry is necessary to carry on good public discourse and maintain our republic.
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the principles underlying the United States government and political institutions and to enable them to engage with diverse viewpoints. Students will understand the historical development of our current political situation, analyze the political process, and describe how various political groups function today. The goal is for students to become familiar with public policies, the constitutional underpinnings of our society, and political behavior in our society. Each student should then be able to apply their understanding to evaluate the justice and appropriateness of various political actions. The course will include engaging group discussions in the weekly live session.
Some weekly course concepts include:
- What is legitimate government, and how did the Founders envision it?
- What different types of federalism have been debated and utilized in the American government?
- The three branches of national government (their functions, original design, and current practices)
- Political parties and their role in American government
- How does policy-making occur? What is the role of the bureaucracy?
- The Constitution and the limits it places on government activities
- How does the media shape perceptions?
- America’s role in the world (past and present)
Honors Level
The honors level is designed for advanced students who wish to explore the topic in greater depth. The honors section will have one extra assignment per week. It may require more difficult reading and writing elements. Everything else (including quizzes) will remain the same.
Course Structure
Students will complete weekly homework assignments that reinforce and extend the classroom discussions. Regular assignments may include watching an online video, reading an article, or completing worksheets. Some examples of assignments include: playing a simulation game about the president’s tasks; writing an essay on the life of a founding father; comparing viewpoints on U.S. foreign policy before WWII; evaluating media sources and their coverage of current events; and contrasting the platforms of various political parties. There is an estimated 3-4 hours of work per week outside of the live class. Every class is recorded, and I post the recording for viewing after each class. Therefore, students can catch up if they happen to miss the live session. There is one quiz and assignment to be completed after the final live class session.
This course can be used to satisfy the prerequisite for my AP US Government and Politics course.
Who should enroll?
This course is designed for students in grades 9-12 to fulfill the typical requirements of a high school government course. The maximum class size is 16 students to encourage student engagement.
Technology Requirements
- High-speed, broadband Internet
- Web cam, sound card, and microphone (for live sessions)
- Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
Evaluation and Feedback
Students will receive comments and individualized feedback on their assignments via Canvas. Work will be graded, and student questions will be addressed in a timely manner.
Communication
Parents do not need to contact me before registering for this class. I will confirm registration with parents and provide a welcome email to students. All parents should join Canvas as observers, and I will respond to any questions from parents.
John Luke Skiles –
Mr. Gilbert providing two great classes where I learned a great deal about economics and government. Though I was poor student, these classes and Mr. Gilbert provided an enjoyable and helpful learning environment. I would definitely recommend these classes to anyone!
Carina Chan –
Mr. Gilbert provided me with a vast understanding of the relationship between government and economics. He provided assignments that were beneficial in applying the knowledge we learned, and I loved how he actively involved each student in answering questions throughout the class. I thoroughly enjoyed his class, and I will miss logging on each week now!
Dylan Palmer –
This class taught me a lot about the way the US economy and government were run and the internal workings of both. I learned more about the political structure and the hidden heros of the government than I knew exsisted. It’s a great class and very helpful.
James Welfare –
I took both government and economics with Mr. Gilbert. I enjoyed both classes. He pushed the students to answer questions and think outside the box. His material was thorough and I gained a ton of knowledge while talking the courses.
Camille Welfare –
Mr. Gilbert was a very good teacher who knew his subjects of government and economics very well. Both the government and economics classes made me voice my opinion as well as back it up with evidence of support. Even though I wasn’t the best at the subject, I still learned a lot of information from this class.
Meredith Welfare –
These classes were very well taught! I loved how Mr. Gilbert brought up controversial topics and allowed us to form opinions on them. When teaching classes such as government and economics, it is probably difficult to keep one’s opinion out of the lesson. However, Mr. Gilbert did a great job of teaching without a bias. I also enjoyed how the homework didn’t just make us memorize facts and spit them back out. I worked through each question by forming an opinion and backing it up.
Molly Slovinsky (verified owner) –
Both of Mr. Gilbert’s classes were very interesting and well taught! Mr. Gilbert is an excellent teacher and explains concepts in a thorough yet easy to understand way. The lectures are informative and helpful, and the assignments are very manageable and always expand on what we learn in the lecture. I would highly recommend both of these classes!
Evan Rowlands –
Mr. Gilbert’s lectures during the class meeting are very interesting. He also gives a lot of extra information when he grades your work, to help you understand the topics better. In Economics I learned that the economy is about a lot more than just how much things cost. The Government portion of the class taught me about how complex our government system is and how the different branches have unique roles. I also learned about how it is my job as a citizen to interact with the government, and especially to vote.
Summer –
This class was one of my favorites this school year! Mr. Gilbert made the concepts easy to understand and fun to learn about. Both the government and economics courses have helped me to gain a better understanding of our government systems. The workload was just the right amount and encouraged me to learn and not just memorize and repeat.
Kaylee Jones –
Mr. Gilbert excels at teaching economics. He explains concepts in easy to understand terms and makes sure each student understands the concepts in class. His assignments are challenging but well worth it as they expand your knowledge on concepts. I’m eager to have him for Government next semester.
Teagan Rude –
The class is very engaging and just the right amount of challenging. If you are thinking of taking this course it is a great overview of economics and government, and a bit of how the two work together. I hardly knew anything about the subject before this year but now I think I have a very clear idea of it.
Phoebe –
I really enjoyed taking Economics and Government with Mr. Gilbert! All the lectures were helpful and informative as he does a great job in explaining concepts. The assignments were also interesting and really beneficial to my understanding of these subjects. Mr. Gilbert was always quick to respond to questions and gave helpful feedback on all the homework assignments. Highly recommend!
Caia Shannon –
Mr. Gilbert was a great teacher! I took both his Introduction to Economics and Introduction to U.S. Government. He always made sure to answer anyone’s questions. He also was always very quick at responding if I would email him a question or concern. He also always offered feedback on all of my assignments, helping me learn if I had made a mistake instead of just marking it wrong. He was also very friendly. Every time we’d start a live class, he would greet each student by name and ask them how they were. His live classes were always informative. He explained the information in a way that was easy to understand and always clarified if necessary. He was always very good about respecting a student’s opinion on a subject and would often ask students’ opinions on matter. I would highly recommend Mr. Gilbert’s Introduction to Economics and Introduction to U.S. Government!
Ethan Porter –
I am beyond pleased with Mr. Gilbert. I took both his Economics and Government courses and was very satisfied with both classes. Mr. Gilbert thoroughly teaches the subject providing numerous sources to aid in understanding. His homework assignments do not consist of busy work, but of carefully constructed assignments that teach the concepts learned in class in preparation for quizzes. I would immediately recommend both his Economics and Government classes.
Jessy Roberts –
I have really enjoyed this class. The teacher always makes or breaks the learning experience and you have made government and economics my favorite subjects. You are an amazing teacher and I was glad to be under your guidance.
Olivia –
Mr. Gilbert’s classes were great! He helps his students to understand what they are learning, not just memorize facts. The homework and quizzes he assigns help you to retain and continue to think about what was discussed in class. Mr. Gilbert is a friendly teacher, and I would recommend him to anyone who has an interest in government or economics.
Nicole M. (verified owner) –
My daughter enjoyed Mr. Gilbert’s class because he was thorough in his explanations, fair in his grading, and loved that topics were debated. She learned a great deal and had fun while doing so. Mr. Gilbert was quick in his responses to questions and helpful when further explanation was needed.
Eliyahu Masinter –
Mr. Gilbert’s classes were, without a doubt, the highlight of my year. I always looked forward to the live sessions and the work itself was always very interesting. I learned so much in so little amount of time. He always wrote comments on all of my work that told me exactly what I had to fix and what I did a great job on. I’m sorry the classes are over. Mr. Gilbert was the best teacher I ever had. I really recommend taking his classes.
Tammie Martin –
My son took two of Mr. Gilbert’s classes —Intro to Government and Intro to Economics. He was challenged and grew as a student and thinker in both classes. The format and layout of these classes is excellent —students are required to do assignments that demonstrate mastery and application of the material taught. Mr. Gilbert also grades homework quickly, gives great feedback, and positively engages the students in class discussions. 5 stars!!
Daphne Patch –
I didn’t know anything about economics and Mr. Gilbert taught the class very well and I learned a lot from him. He explains very thoroughly and gave many examples about the material being taught. He keeps the class engaged and makes it enjoyable to learn. I will be taking his government class this semester.
Jocelyn –
I was very impressed with Mr. Gilbert! My 12 year old dd wrote a review “I really like this teacher because, he is very thorough and makes sure that you know the subject before you move on. He is very nice, and he explains the topic simply so you understand. He taught me this class even though I was the only one there. He is a good teacher and I believe that I will be taking some future classes with him.” If he offers more classes She will definitely attend!
A.J. –
Mr. Gilbert is an enjoyable teacher to take classes with. He is calm, relaxed, and knowledgeable. He covers a good amount of content, and he asks lots of questions to keep the students involved and thoughtfully interacting with what they’re learning.
Jon Adler –
Mr. Gilbert was one my favorite high school teachers. He had a great knowledge and love for what he taught. He challenged me to see and understand the larger picture beyond just memorizing facts.