Using a Web-Based Questionnaire as an Aide for High School Economics Instruction

The authors describe a new, Web-based survey instrument that may serve as an aide for teachers and as an interactive exercise for high school economics students. The questionnaire asks students about their involvement with the economy, inquiring about employment, consumption, and living standards, and includes a few hypothetical consumer-demand questions. Teachers can request an automated report on the basis of their classes' responses, containing comparisons with a national sample. The motivation for the survey is twofold. First, in addition to enhancing their understanding of their students' backgrounds and familiarity with the U.S. economy, teachers will receive suggestions on ways to use the survey responses to illustrate economic concepts. Second, with lesson plans grounded in students' own experiences, the authors hope that students will be more actively engaged in learning.