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Timothy Hamilton

Class Format

Your classes with me as your instructor follow a lecture/in-class activity format.  That means that while I will lecture to familiarize you with concepts, much of our class time is spent with in-class exercises.   Sometimes these exercises are done individually and sometimes in groups.  Some days we will draw graphs, somedays we will build economic models, but most frequently we will used the tools we learn to create and solve problems.   In short, we will build an economic toolboxes and then apply those tools to current events in the world around us.

The in-class exercises are similar to homework and exam questions; thus, if you participate actively, you will earn better scores on those assessments.   Discussions are free flowing so please come to class with questions.  The exams are open note, so it is in your best interests to bring a notebook to class and take notes.

Resource Use

Textbook:  Our textbook is used extensively and mandatory for the course.

Calculator:  A calculator other than the app on your smartphone or laptop is needed.  A cheap Walmart non-graphing calculator is sufficient.

Notebook:  Unless you are a Mnemonist or Savant or person with an exceptional memory, a notebook is a darn good idea.

Assessment

Your grade is based on three components:

  1. 60% of the grade.  There are three tests this semester (although that number could change for no apparent good reason).   All of them count and no do-overs.
  2. In-Class activities. 20% of the grade.  These are the graph-drawing, model-building and problem solving exercises mentioned earlier.
  3. 20% of the grade.  There is weekly out-of-class on-line homework to do on your own through McGraw Hill Connect.

Homework Policy

On-line homework is required for each course I teach.   Thus, you must purchase a code to access the online learning platform. The current platform is called, “Connect” by McGraw Hill publishing who maintains the website. The access codes are good for one-semester and may be purchased at the JCCC bookstore or online.   The scores earned on Connect are transferred over to the gradebook in the Canvas module that accompanies our course.

Attendance Policy

You must attend class. The famous comedian/writer Woody Allen said, "90 percent of life is just showing up."  He must have been referring to Economics classes.   Students that miss class universally do poorly in Economics courses.  This is because the content is applied learning and you can’t fake that.   Note that the Economics Department policy is to not drop students for lack of attendance; thus, if a student does not attend class, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course.

The missed in-class activities and tests policy is simple.  A students who is absent may not make up the in-class points.  Also, a student who misses an exam without a prior arrangement, takes a 0 for that test score.  The only exception to these rules are documented medical situations.

Availability

I have office hours by appointment and would prefer those to be either immediately before class or after class.  That being said, I get to class ten minutes early and typically stay around for ten minutes after, so most questions can be taken up at that time.

Also, I check my JCCC email daily.

Additional Information

I make extensive use of the college’s Canvas learning management platform. There you will find copies of all handouts and powerpoints as well as the up to the minute gradebook.

I do not allow cell phones in the classroom unless we are doing an in-class activity (such as Socrative) that uses it.   Thus, all phones need to be shut off (or silenced) and put away during class.