THE TEACHING ECONOMIST - William A. McEachern 
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Issue 24, Spring 2003
William A. McEachern, Editor
Just-in-Time Teaching
Scott Simkins of North Carolina A&T State University and Mark Maier of Glendale Community College in California are adapting "Just-in-Time" Teaching (JiTT) techniques for the economic principles course. This approach was originally developed in 1996 for introductory physics. Similar adaptations are underway in chemistry, biology, and mathematics. JiTT combines classroom activities that promote active learning with Web-based activities that enhance the classroom component. Here's the idea: between classes, students complete exercises and submit them to the instructor electronically via email or using course management software, such as WebCT and Blackboard. These assignments are due a few hours before class and are based on material to be covered in that class, so students must complete the day's reading to answer the questions.
The instructor reviews student submissions an hour or two before class and uses this material to focus the upcoming class session. Student submissions are excerpted and referenced during class to serve as a basis for discussion, replacing some or all of the traditional lecture. Student performance on the pre-class assignment is also used to develop follow-up exercises that groups of students work on together during class. These activities are designed to promote a virtuous cycle to encourage better class participation, offer timely feedback to students, and allow for "just-in-time" adjustments of class activities. Since students see their own work presented in class, they develop a stronger sense of responsibility for their own learning and are more likely to complete assignments. At least, that's the theory behind just-in-time teaching.
The National Science Foundation awarded Professors Simkins and Maier $130,000 to develop a set of JiTT tools for others to use in economics classes. They presented their approach at the ASSA meetings in January. To keep apprised of their progress, send either of them an email (simkinss@ncat.edu or mmaier@glendale.edu) and ask to be put on their JiTT-ECON mailing list.