Evaluating a computer-based simulator program to teach the principles of macroeconomic equilibria |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Professor, Institute of Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany;2. Research Associate, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany;5. Professor, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany;3. Adjunct Professor, Institute of Crop Science and Plant Breeding–Grass and Forage Science/Organic Agriculture, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zuf Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany;4. Professor, Institute of Crop Science and Plant Breeding–Grass and Forage Science/Organic Agriculture, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zuf Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany;1. Department of Physics, University of Shkodra, Shkoder, Albania;2. EPhysLab, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, Ourense, Spain;3. Departamento de Fisica, Centro de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierias, Universitad de Guadalajara, Mexico;4. Remote Sensing Laboratory/CommSensLab, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona 08034, Spain;5. Ciències i Tecnologies de l''Espai - Centre de Recerca de l''Aeronàutica i de l''Espai, Institut d''Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (CTE-CRAE/IEEC), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona 08034, Spain;6. Astronomical Observatory of the “Taras Shevchenko” National University, Kyiv, Ukraine |
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| Abstract: | General equilibrium macroeconomic models are a basic tool for understanding how the economy functions, how the main macroeconomic variables are related, and the final outcome of economic policies. The teaching of these models is essentially achieved through a system of mathematical equations accompanied by the use of concatenated graphs representing the markets involved in the economy. However, the way these graphs are traditionally taught does not allow the learner to easily understand how they are related or for changes in a model's graphical outputs (curves) to be visualized. Here, a simulation program is presented and the effectiveness of its application to a group of macroeconomics students at the University of Seville during the 2011/12 academic year is evaluated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of all students' scores and some complementary statistical tests were applied with a view to distinguishing between students who used the simulator with the aid of a teacher, students who used the simulator without this assistance, and students who studied the topic in a conventional manner in the classroom. The average score obtained by the first-mentioned group in a model comprehension test was significantly higher than that of the second group, which in turn was higher than that of the third group taught using the conventional approach. |
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| Keywords: | Simulator Macroeconomic balance Learning |
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