Using the FRED Excel-Based Application to Improve Learning Outcomes in Economic Courses : From Student to Practitioner

This paper describes active learning strategies using the FRED Excel based application to help bridge the gap between theory and empirics. The recent FRED Excel based application permits students to easily collect, manipulate, and plot macroeconomic data. It also allows students to use this information to validate and reinforce the theoretical models discussed in class. For illustrative purposes, we provide some sample assignments specific to intermediate and principle level macroeconomic classes. We promote a learning-by-doing strategy as an effective way to improve learning outcomes in undergraduate economic classes