AP Class Reviews

Greetings, future econ students! I must say that I enjoyed Macroecon with Dr. Richman very much. It was my favorite class this year. If you are reading class reviews, then surely you have already seen the section of the class description about all the fun economics games we get to play. I am here to avow that all accounts of funness are true, and you'll get a real variety of gameplay with the different types of games. My favorite was probably the International Trade Game (I think that's the right name?) when everyone forms teams and gets to battle each other out.

I felt very prepared and capable taking the AP Exam this morning. I practiced with random multiple choice questions practically every day since the start of class (required before you can submit your daily game move) and practice test essays since Thanksgiving. I feel confident that I scored a 5. The assignments I foudn most valuable where those essays and MCQs. Thiis course did indeed enhance my interest in the subject. I am a senior, and at the beginning of the school year I was uncertain whether applying to business colleges would suit me. Taking this course helped solidify my confidence in my decision to go to an all-business school for college. Thanks!
--Emily Morrison, class of '12

This course definately prepared me for the AP exam. I generally put in at least an hour a day into this course. My favorite assignments were definitely the economics games that we played against eachother. Interacting with the other students was also very helpful. We could discuss ideas and figure out what we still needed to understand. A student who is good with numebrs and likes thinking in a left-brained manner would do well in this course. Unfortunately, I'm not that kind of person. It was useful and helpful, although it definitely made me decide that I should never go into anything involving economics. A left-brained student, though, would excel and probably enjoy this class a lot.

Fantastic class! posted by William Pete Ehrett on August 17 2011 at 20:39:54

Dr. Richman's AP Macroeconomics class is one of the best I've ever taken. I learned a lot, had fun, and was extremely well-prepared for the AP exam in May. I probably spent about 1.5-2 hours per day on the class, on average. At different points throughout the year, some days are lighter or heavier than others, but I never felt overloaded. The economics games are one of the best parts of the course, and they're structured in such a way that they reinforce whatever material you're studying at the time. There's a ton of class interaction, too, and the class forum is always buzzing with discussions of current events and economics ideas, among other things.

A couple other notes: first, don't be put off by the need to write lots of essays (especially the ones between December and the end of the year) - if you've been doing the readings and answering daily questions, they're not too hard. Plus, they're largely collections of interrelated short-answer questions that are extremely similar to the free-response questions on the AP exam. Second, strongly consider doing the AP Microeconomics exam as well. This class coveres a lot of the foundational Microeconomics material, and the rest is covered in the video lectures and textbook chapters that the class doesn't formally study.

All in all, I can't recommend this class highly enough. If you're willing to work and to actively participate, you'll have a great experience.

This was a fantastic class. It takes a fair bit of work, varying from 5 to 10 hours a week depending on the semester, but the lessons are generally easy to understand. Luckily, if you have any problems you can always send Dr. Richman a message. He is generally pretty easy to get a hold of (through AIM at least) and he will answer your question promptly and in a way you can easily understand. The work was also very interesting, and many of the economic simulation games were quite fun. Of course, none of this matters very much if you don't do well on the AP test. This class helped me get not only a 5 on the macroeconomics exam, but a 5 on the microeconomics exam as well. Overall, it is an interesting class that is easy to understand and will help you do great on the AP test. I highly recommend it.

Yes definitely, Dr. Richman covered all the bases in our class. He was regularly there to answer questions and provide extra material and comments. On test day I felt extremely prepared.

Maybe 6 or 7 hours a week. Game meetings/discussions and meetings tended to fill up alot of time, actual coursework was around 4-5 hours of week in essays/listening lectures/quizzes.

Definitely the economics games. The games had you subconsciously memorizing alot of stuff in order to be successful, and was probably the most striking feature of this AP class.

I was originally very interested in business/economics, and this course just enhanced it.

Yes, there was alot of communication, collaboration, and general camaderie going on every day of the course. Corresponding for games, review meetings, exemplary essays, etc. all were examples of valuable communication with other students.

Any student that who can work moderately hard. Yes I would most definitely recommend this course to other students, whether they are considering going into something business/economics related, or something else.

The course prepared me very well for the exam. I had learned the material throughout the year so I didn't feel like I had to scramble to think of answers. Because we had taken so many practice q's and tests throughout the year, I knew most of the key concepts.

I would say that I spent around 5 hours a week on this course depending on the workload.

I thought that the games were awesome! They really helped to teach economic concepts that we were learning about. In addition to learning, they were also really fun. It was also a good way to interact with fellow classmates who you wouldn't normally talk to.

Yes, absolutely! I came in not knowing much about economics and I finished the year with a knowledge of economics and now I am paying attention to current events that affect the economic world.

Yes, the discussion that went on among the students was really helpful. Everyone has a wide range of ideas so there were a lot of thought provoking essays and discussions.

I would absolutely recommend this course. Any student who is good as keeping deadlines and likes to interact with his/her fellow classmates will enjoy this class. As long as the work was completed on time and not pushed off to the side it was challenging but not extremely difficult.

Dr. Richman is a great teacher and is always willing to help you. He is very easy to reach and easily explains ideas that don't seem to click. If you are looking for a fun class AND you want to get AP credits along the way, take this course.

The awesomest class ever! posted by Mark Heimann on May 23 2011 at 15:23:51

I felt very prepared for the AP Macroeconomics exam. Out of the five I took this year, this one was the one I felt most confident about. This course does not, however, explicitly prepare you for the AP Microeconomics exam, as I found out part way through the year. You are pretty well equipped, though if you want to study on your own during the months of March and April. I don't know if I got a 5 on the Micro exam or not, but in any case you certainly can still take this course with confidence even if you want to take both exams.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Maybe a couple of hours per day. It's hard to estimate, especially because some of the games took up more time than others (e.g. The Business Game).

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

The games were the most fun part of the course, and very educational. You should take the class just for the games (be careful not to become consumed by trying to contact your burger wholesaler(s) many times a day).

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes! I met some of the coolest people on the face of the whole earth in this class.

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

I don't think you need to be especially brilliant or overachieving to succeed in this course, but you need to have basic discipline and time management skills. During the months of March and April, there are pretty much no assignments, so you need to manage your time to study independently. You also need to have the commitment to do the "random quiz questions" (worth 5 points) every day; even though 5 points seem to be pretty easy to go without, it really adds up.

If you are brilliant or overachieving, I'm sure it would help. :) I would recommend this course to just about any of my (homeschooled) friends.

One other thing: I mentioned that I plan to major in economics based largely on the strength of this course. I also applied for a full-tuition + yearly stipend academic scholarship in social and behavioral sciences (in my case, economics) at a top university, mostly (actually, pretty much solely) on the strength of being in the middle of taking AP Econ. As it turned out, after an application, essays, and a bunch of face-to-face interviews, I ended up getting the scholarship. Before my senior year, my knowledge of economics pretty much went as far as a rudimentary understanding of supply and demand. Therefore, all I can say is +1 for Dr. Richman's course! Thanks Dr. R!!!

I've been looking forward to taking AP Econ since my freshman year, when I heard about how amazing the class was. Three years later, the class didn't disappoint. Much of the teaching is through interactive class-wide games. The premise is somewhat similar to immersion language learning: you apply the skills you learn as soon as you've learned them. The textbook and video lectures are also very well done and quite easy to follow. As a result, I felt very prepared, both for the AP exam and just for a general knowledge of economics. I'm going to most likely be studying politics or public affairs, and this class definitely pushed me towards those two majors. The class interactions were also valuable, partially because I knew a few of the classmates in real life through the NCFCA debate league. Any student, as long as he/she is willing to work hard and listen to the instructions, will do well in this class. I've already recommended this class to multiple other interested students.

OF COURSE! This nice thing about this class is that you learn very very cumulatively. As you just do the homework and the games stuff gets reinforced automatically, and this means that by the time April rolls around, you are very solid on a lot of econ. concepts and you can do more spot-check review. At least in my experience. There are spot checks on several things - for example, the Keynesian Spending Multiplier. However, these are usually very fun and easy to pick up with your excellent foundation.

The games help reinforce econ concepts extremely well. Try altering one variable when you do a move, and you'll be surprised at what you learn!

You can get by with just 5-6 a week; however, I do not recommend this. I recommend putting in much more time if you can. You will enjoy doing the econ essays during the first semester, and reading from great magazines like the WSJ, the Economist, and commenting on current issues. Mark my words, it will give you an edge in debate!

-Are there any particularly favorite assignemnts that you found especially valuable?

Besides the games, which are AMAZING, it's really fun during the first semester when you get to write an essay a week on all sorts of modern and classic economic issues. You learn sooooo much - and not just for the exam, but in reality, you grow in appreciation and interest for economics!! This isn't just a class to prepare you for the exam - it is a class to help you learn economics.

MOST CERTAINLY. I very much enjoy economics now, and especially with the amazing games of Dr. Richman (he's a programmer), I have grown to love this subject. :) Seriously!

-Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

The best opportunity for this for me was during the team Econ games. It's a lot of fun! :) and it's especially useful during games where you are forced to work together with them! You learn a lot - in the last game, for example, I played a government of a country and my teammate played the business sector of our country, and we had to try and work together to figure out how to grow our country best. We learned a lot about how governments and businesses work together and affect each other!!

It's a point-based system (certain #points = A, B, C, etc.), which is nice! and thus, if you really want to get an A+, you can do it. All it takes is dedication and some discipline - for example, you can answer 10-15 econ questions a day for +5 grade points. You rack up a good number of points quite fast through the quizzes, essays, games, and everything else! It is not hard to do well in this course, if you just do a little bit every day!

I highly recommend this class!! It is absolutely fantastic, and frankly, it sounds very impressive when you drop the name "AP Macroeconomics." You'll love the games! :) And even better, by the time the AP test rolls around, you'll love the subject! :)

Well worth the money! posted by Dani Shaw (Parent) on May 19 2011 at 20:39:13

This was my son’s first experience taking a class on line. My husband and I were skeptical about paying this much money for a class but the class description sounded like a perfect fit for our son. Now we think it was worth more than we paid. I have no doubt my son will receive at least a 4 on his AP test. This class prepared him very well! Dr. Richman knows economics well and is an excellent teacher. I highly recommend this class. I wish we had found out about PA Homeschoolers earlier than my son’s senior year.

Great class and great teacher! posted by Trevor Shaw on May 19 2011 at 20:11:56

I felt that this course prepared me well for the exam. The beginning of the class created a solid foundation upon which to build the important concepts. Although it was somewhat time consuming, perhaps one to two hours per day, this class has been amazing. This was one of the best classes I have ever taken, no doubt about it. I learned so much valuable information about the economy. Before taking this class, I was completely ignorant in economics. For instance, if you asked me what monetary policy was, I would be at a loss for words. But now, I can't even imagine not having the knowledge I have today. Not only was the class great, the students were very amiable and intelligent. I have made some friends via this course. Additionally, Dr. Richman is great teacher. He is very available for chats and explains things extremely well. I still have chats saved for future reference. The economics games make things very fun and interesting as well.

I would recommend this class to anyone who is willing to put the time in. Even if they are skeptical about the difficulty, I would go for it. I don't believe they will regret their decision. I certainly don't!

Awesome class, lots of fun posted by Josh Calvetti on May 19 2011 at 17:18:10

Overall, I'd have to say I quite enjoyed Dr. Richman's AP Economics class. We had a pretty large class (around 45 students), but it never felt crowded; Dr. Richman was always available in the evenings to answer my questions. There were certainly times when the work was hard, but it was still enjoyable and enlightening. Throughout the year, we played many different types of economic-based games. Each was complicated, yet they were each fun in their own way.

I would definitely say this was one of the harder courses I've take in high school- but that's not a reason to not take it. If you're willing to put your mind to it, you'll be able to excel.

If you want to be an informed citizen... posted by Audrey Ward on May 16 2011 at 15:52:08

...then look no further for an excellent class that is superbly relevant to current events! Personally, after taking this class, I believe that this course should be required for all high school students. This class is great whether you are "into" economics and current events or not. I will admit that I have never been an business/economics person, but I got just as much out of the class as students who were already relatively knowledgeable. Business cycles, government deficit and debt, and trade are extremely important issues for our country. Before taking this class I was rather ignorant about them, but I can now read newspaper articles and have conversations about the economy with the confidence that I will have a good understanding of the issues. The class certainly enhanced my interest in the subject!

I feel that this course prepared me very well for the AP exam; most of the multiple choice questions were quite easy for me after all of the practice I got throughout the year working on daily "Random Multiple Choice Questions." I spent about 2 hours each week day on this course (I only had to work on weekends if I wanted to work ahead or study for an upcoming exam), but sometimes more if in the heat of a competitive economics game! The games that Dr. Richman has created were very valuable to my understanding of the course material and were fun at the same time. The class interaction during the games was excellent. They helped me to memorize economic concepts like monetary and fiscal policy intuitively, rather than by rote--which makes the essays on the AP exam much easier to navigate. I found the steady routine of essay writing throughout the year very helpful as well.

AP Macroeconomics is definitely a course that I would recommend to any high school student willing to work hard and who wants to become an informed citizen!

Are you interested in the Economic struggles of today and the search for solutions? Do you like challenges, working hard, studying hard and playing hard? Well, this class is just the thing for you!

Though it sounds like it takes up the whole day, if you manage your study time, 1 1/2 to 2 hours max per day is a good studying balance for this class. Some of it is fun work too, including lots of games and creative writing to use the information you learned each week. As the AP Exam approaches there are no assingments, but a strict studying time should be applied each day so you don't forget the information that was instilled in you.

For those of you that don't have much interest in Economics, let me tell you, I used to be in the same boat. After taking this class I became very interested in economics, even to the point of liking it!! Who knows, you may even think about minoring in it after this amazing class! Remeber, Economics is not the "dismal science" that it is thought to be. :-)

Become an APECer�it�s empowering! posted by Damaris Jimenez on June 01 2010 at 20:13:25

Absolutely! The combination of the games, essays, quizzes, daily quiz questions, interaction with my classmates, and especially the whole class chat two days before the actual exam all gave me a feeling of confidence going into the test. I’m typically a pretty test-tense girl, who believed that, since this was my first AP class ever, the exam would be just as painful as the Pittsburgh Penguins winning the Stanley Cup again…I live close to Washington DC. However, this was not the case, thankfully. Dr. Richman is a terrific teacher, who has put together a brilliantly structured course. Each concept followed the next clearly and logically. The lectures by Timothy Taylor were fantastic and the games Dr. Richman designed made this class one of the most enjoyable I have ever taken.

On average, I had about 2 hours per day devoted to economics, which worked pretty well for me. Some of the games are a little more time consuming, so my economics time stretched out a little more. But usually it took me about 2 hours to get my daily work done: quiz questions, posting on the WWW Board, critiquing essays, writing essays, making game move, etc. Thursdays are the catch-up day of the week for this class.

The Games! End of story. The games made this class the best class I’ve taken all year. They were fun, interesting, and provoked a lot of discussion, debate, and interaction on the Game/social board. My favorite two games were the Business Game [a.k.a. the Burger Game] and the International Growth Game [IGG]. Also, if you really enjoyed a particular game, at the end of the year, Dr. Richman might let you run it as a post-class game. I wound up having a blast running the 3^rd round of the Burger Game against the other Economics class Dr. Richman taught this year.

Yes. Although history has always been my thing … I come from a game-loving family and I was convinced to take this class based on the descriptions of the games. Looking back at my past year in Econ, I have to say that the knowledge I gained has helped me in my competitive debate league, in my understanding of the Wall Street Journal op-eds, and in every day conversation. I am considering taking economics in college.

Interaction with the class…on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most…I give this class 15. While not every conversation on the game/social board was economics-related, the conversations were still very worthwhile and fun. For this class, I would highly recommend downloading AIM onto your computer…I had more conversations with my classmates and Dr. Richman over AIM then on the game/social board…and that’s saying something because the game/social board was ridiculously active. My classmates and I discussed everything from favorite books, movies, music, and [oddly enough] hockey teams to the current game we were playing, and econ-game strategy.

If you are looking to take AP Macroeconomics from Dr. Richman, [as I assume you are] my advice to you would be – do it! This class is open to the econ guru as well as the kid who has never heard of Supply or Demand. Dr. Richman is an excellent teacher who will work with you to ensure you understand the concepts. One of the many things I have appreciated about taking this class from Dr. Richman is, he is very persistent, timely, and also reasonable. If you don’t understand a concept or you can’t make a deadline, he is flexible…assuming you give enough notice.

The student who would do well in this class would be anyone who is eager to learn and likes to argue [ahem, politely, though]. Both of these characteristics will help you generate worthwhile class discussion and interaction with Dr. Richman and your classmates. So go sign up for this class *now* and become an APECer!

-Getting points were a key motivator for me in this class. Doing your Daily Quiz Questions are highly important. Do *not* miss a day to collect the maximum 5 points per day. I learned the hard way. The way to lose points and over time fall in class rank was missing quiz questions.

-For the games that require partners or teams…try to switch up who you partner with…you’ll make more friends that way and you’ll learn more things about the games. You might also find a study buddy.

-It is also fun to invite family members or friends to play in some of the games. Dr. Richman really encourages this and my father had a great time buying and selling pixilated burgers!

-An Absolute Must: go the end of the year party!!! I just got back from it yesterday and had an absolute blast – plus on Saturday, your curfew is 2:30 am. [totally awesome] I had no clue how to square or swing dance…but the Richmans are excellent musicians and dance-callers. I had a great time dancing with some of my econ-classmates and then playing basketball with them after the dance until about curfew. This party was one of the big highlights of my year. ;)

If you are at all interested in Economics take this class! posted by Andrew Montgomery on May 27 2010 at 18:56:36

This class has been Amazing! I myslef have a passion for political science and I was intrigued by the idea of taking economics. When I started getting into the material it was a complete blast. My favorite class of the year (maybe even of my entire highschool!) The text books and assignments were both challenging and rewarding. But it is easy to succeed if you put your heart into it. One thing that is great about this class over a different economic class is the economic stimulations involved. This allows you to play a game while learning economics, a truly awesome addition. I've found that not only have I learned so much about economics and gained a better understanding of the world but I've also improved other areas. For example, I'm taking the ACT this year and one of the sections is a science section (basically just interpreting graphs and data) something which I'm not a fan of. But economics has helped me dramatically with that and the science section is one of my highest scores.

In summary, take this class! Learning economics is great, wheter you are interested in purusing it as a carrer or just to better understand the world we live in. Dr. Richman is a great instructor who is happy to answer your questions and help you along. Thanks Dr. Richman!

I highly recommend this class! Dr. Richman is a great teacher, and I learned so much this year in his class. I started off without any knowledge of economics, and I have come to find that it is an important subject for everyone to study, as it has so much real-life relevance. Even with the break in class work from March to late April, I felt very well prepared for the AP exam. There was plenty of practice, and everything easily came back to me for the AP test in May.

This course definitely enhanced my interest in economics. I never considered studying it in college before, but I am now. I really enjoyed the whole course, but my favorite assignments were playing the economics games, especially the Burger Game. Speaking of the games, my only warning would be that this class can demand a lot of time, especially when you really get into the games. (It's definitely worth it though!) I would estimate that it econ took about 7 - 10 hours a week (though some weeks it was a little less), with an hour or usually more a day. Whether you already have an interest in econ or know nothing about it, I highly recommend this class!

Great course for the motivated student posted by Abraham DeHart on May 24 2010 at 10:09:31

This is a great course to take if you are motivated and want to do well. Like most online courses, it is really up to you to take the initiative. You can meet the basic requirements and even do ok without really devoting yourself to learning the material. However, the games definetly helped me to keep connected with what I was learning. I would recommend this course if your interested in economics, and if you are motivated to do well. If not, you will probably get an A- or a B iin the course, and then do poorly on the actual AP test.

This course can take up as much or as little time as you have to give. I would say that I averaged an hour every day, but I think my sister often spent as much as 4 or 5 hours a day. I didn't get as complete an understanding of the subject, but I felt that I learned enough to get a 4 out of 5 on the final exam.

Dr. Richman is an excellent teacher and resource. He is frequently available online to chat with, and is very good at explaining difficult concepts. But once again, if you don;t understand something, it is up to you to take the initiative.

The #1 Class You MUST Take in High School posted by Claire Rossell on May 23 2010 at 17:49:17

Let me begin by saying that if you're considering taking this class and you're thinking, "I know absolutely nothing about economics! Why on earth should I even consider taking an AP Economics course??" don't let that stop you. I thought the same thing. Prior to taking this class, I knew nothing about economics. I remember reading some of my classmates' bios and seeing them talking about their views on free trade or economic stimulus, and I wondered, "What on earth have I gotten myself into?"

Fast-forward eight months to when I sat down to take my AP Macroeconomics test. Unlike other times I had taken AP tests, I felt completely calm and confident. I knew that I knew the material. How did I go from being the know-nothing economics student to a confident, well-prepared AP test-taker? The answer is this course.

Dr. Richman is an amazing teacher! I have taken five online AP courses now and I have discovered that there is a direct correlation between the involvement of the teacher and how well I master the material. One thing that I really appreciate about Dr. Richman as a teacher is that he is always available. He communicates with his students primarily through AIM and invites them to chat him with ANY questions they have. I had a lot of questions for Dr. Richman this year, and he always was very patient in explaining the answers to me and wouldn't quit until I completely understood the concept. He is also a very prompt grader. When he says he'll get something graded on Wednesday, he'll have it graded on Wednesday.

This course did take some time. There are assignments due everyday (except Thursdays) which usually can be completed in one to two hours (depending on how focused the student is). At first, I wasn't sure if I would like this everyday due date system since all my other courses usually only had weekly due dates. However, I came to appreciate how it kept me from procrastinating and it helped me to digest concepts gradually instead of simply cramming in everything on a Friday night.

Also, starting in November, Dr. Richman has us begin to write econ essays from real AP exams. Over the months, he covers just about any subject that could possibly come up in the free response questions so that we know exactly how to answer the questions when we face them in May.

The best part of the course hands-down, though, was the games. During the year, students play a variety of games illustrating different macroeconomic concepts. Not only were these incredibly fun and helped you to get to know your classmates better, I think this is what really helped me to master the material. The games helped for me to not only learn, but to apply, and this helped to reinforce what I had learned. I even found myself at the AP exam trying to remember the answer to one question and remembering, "Hey, this is what I did in one of those games! I just need to do what I did there!"

Even if you think that you'll never go into a field requiring economics (although after this class, you may change your mind), I would still highly recommend this class. I've actually told my mom quite often recently that I think taking a Macroeconomics class should be a requirement to graduate from high school. The thing is, I didn't just become a more informed student -- I became a more informed voter. Now when I hear about the government spending more money or healthcare or unemployment, I understand what people are saying and I can now make an informed decision about which way to vote.

So, no matter if you're an econ-genius or have absolutely no experience in economics, I would highly recommend that you take this class. You won't regret it.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS CLASS posted by Andrew Evans on May 20 2010 at 24:25:14

It's really quite simple: Take This Class. It's excellent, educational, and fun.

Excellent: If you follow the assignments diligently, you will do well on the exam. Most public/private school students you'll be competing with took this class in one semester--and many took it in the fall! You get an entire year to march through the material and saturate your brain with preparation. I've taken eight AP exams, and this one worried me the least. Dr. Richman's class definitely prepared me and it will definitely prepare you.

Educational: Although some of you are probably just looking for a way to get an econ credit, I thoroughly believe that this class provides a necessary foundation for being a good citizen. It saddens me to see ignorant Democrats and equally ignorant Republicans arguing for or against an issue without understanding the economics behind it. Rude rhetoric, rather than rightful reason, rules.

But as you begin studying the un-politicized facts, you'll be surprised at how little debate there is about the actual workings of an economy and the effects of governmental policies. Economic questions today rarely involve "how does this work?" They almost always involve "what are our goals as a society?" The second question is moral, and if you're still mucking about in the "how does this work" category, you won't be able to reasonably evaluate our society's goals and be an effective citizen.

Fun: I can't stress enough how much unbridled fun I had in this class! It was ridiculous...The games are unbelievable: you gain a rock-solid grasp of a confusing economic concept without even realizing it! I can't tell you how many times I'd be going over some concept with a fellow student and say "Well, in [name of game], it worked like this..." Because they were games, I immersed myself in the joy of competition and only later learned that I had mastered a model of some concept.

On a side note, not every game is as fun for everyone: some games are individual with no outside contact, some are individual with intense outside contact, some are two-person teams, and some three-person teams. But whatever your style, most of these games are going to be the highlight of your week--and people will laugh when you tell them that economics is your favorite class! (And believe me, you will utter those words)

Miscellaneous advice: Use the games as a springboard for studying with other students. There's no way I would have gotten as much from this class if I had wrapped myself in a cocoon and ignored my classmates. Also, don't try to read the whole chapter all at once. It will either hurt, or you won't really read it. So spread it out. Finally, take the games in stride. They all have great potential for fun and learning, but they all have equal potential to ruin your day. Personally I greatly enjoyed almost all of them, but remember during that one game you happen to not like (everyone has one), that it's just a game. If the fun doesn't capture you, focus on the learning--and the next game will probably be way awesome.

Summary: I had three goals going into this class. Rock the exam, become a better citizen, and have fun. All three were more than met. You simply MUST do the same.

Not only did this course prepare me for the AP test, but it sparked my interest in the subject. I am now thinking of double majoring so I can include economics in my studies.

Excellent class. Excellent preparation. posted by Adam Nasser on May 11 2010 at 13:32:14

This is a top-notch course. Not only did it give me the preparation I needed for the exam, but the understanding of economics that I have acquired has helped me to be a more generally well-educated person. I highly reccomend taking this course. This class gets a "5"

--If you choose to take this course and put in the work required, you will be extremely well prepared for the AP exam. Dr. Richman is a fantastically knowledgeable instructor and will cover just about every piece of information that you need to know for the AP exam. Out of the four AP exams that I've taken so far, I think that I felt best prepared for the Macroeconomics Exam, because Dr. Richman does such a thorough job.

--I would estimate that I spent about 8-12 hours per week on this course. Sometimes, I probably spent more time than necessary on the games (and on the www board!), but most of that time was a necessity for success on the exam.

--I felt like I gained something from all the assignments, but I think that the assignments that helped prepare me the best were the daily quiz questions (multiple choice questions in the style of those on the exam) and the essays in the second half of the year (again, based on questions from AP exams).

--After taking this course, I think that my interest in macroeconomics has increased dramatically. In light of the recent/ongoing recession, fiscal and monetary policy have suddenly been shoved into the limelight, and understanding what is going on in Washington has helped me discuss my political ideals more rationally.

--I found that communication with other students really helped me understand the material better, particularly the friendly debates on the WWW Board. In addition, communication with classmates via IM and email during the games helped me to understand certain concepts better.

--I would definitely recommend this class to you if you are interested in learning about and understanding the way the economy works.

As Dr. Richman would say, "Excellent course!" Dr. Richman is obviously a veteran AP Economics teacher; AP Macroeconomics is an extremely well-designed course--certainly one of the better ones, I would guess. I definitely felt prepared for the AP Macro exam, despite my misgivings at the beginning of the year, when economics seemed quite a formidable subject. But through the Teaching Company lectures, textbook, awesome games, and ready advice from Dr. Richman, it all "clicked" before I knew it.

As for input hours: This class requires quite a few! However--and this is vital for an AP course--I never felt that any of the hours I put in were spent on "busy work." Rather, I felt that Dr. Richman's requirements were quite necessary and manageable (with the proper student application, of course). On average, though, I would say that I probably put in about 1.5 hours per day--during the early stages of each Game, quite a bit more; at other times of the year, a bit less.

Indeed, at the beginning of each new game--especially the first one, a wholesale/retail simulation--I probably overdid it a bit. But I think that's because the games were so applicable and enjoyable! In fact, I think the economics simulation games which Dr. Richman has created are one of the most beneficial aspects of taking this Macroeconomics course: They're something one doesn't have access to in most AP classes. I found these games so valuable because they made the vital economic concepts become second nature; rather than attempting to memorize facts and formulas for the test, simply by participating in the games I unconsciously learned the basic in's and out's, up's and down's of economic policy. They are a tremendous tool.

In response to the prompt asking whether or not this course enhanced my interest in economics: To be honest, I'm not much of an econ. guy. But that should speak even more highly to the excellence of this course--because I felt absolutely comfortable with the subject matter by the test. Although I'm not incredibly interested in pursuing economics, in a way, this class DID enhance my interest in econ., because it allowed me to better understand our economy at this crucial period. That, I found quite interesting, and I found myself listening to financial news more intently!

All in all, I think that anyone who is prepared to really apply themselves can do well in this course. A certain comfort level with math does help, but isn't essential. Being able to reason critically and thoroughly is the main key to succeeding in economics. Plus, Dr. Richman is readily available, if you have AOL Instant messenger, to clear up any confusion. I would certainly recommend this AP Macroeconomics class to other students!

Are you seriously considering Dr. Richman�s Macro-Economics course? Wonderful! I am so glad to hear it. I took the class in 2008-2009 and had a great time.

As a small business owner, I had a very basic understanding of how supply and demand works. However, my most educated explanation of the disturbing economic phenomena in 2007 and 2008 was probably, �Well...people have made bad choices and now we are suffering for them.� Taking Dr. Richman�s course helped me understand how individual choices can affect an economy on a macro-economic level. Did I learn a great deal? Yes! The class also deepened my interest in the subject.

Dr. Richman�s course features an extensive use of economic stimulations to teach concepts. They are so fun that we call them �games.� A variety of individual and team games taught about investment, the stock market, and international exchange of currency, just to name a few. The games were also an opportunity to build relationships with classmates. I grew closer to previous acquaintances and made new friendships.

However, all AP courses involve responsible studying. Dr. Richman�s course is no different. During the majority of the school year, I spent about an hour to three hours on the course, four days a week. I probably could have averaged 1 � 1 � hours each day, but an intensive schedule normally forced me to cram my textbook reading into one day. The hard work did pay off�on the day of the test, I felt well prepared.

In short�if you are a dedicated student who wants to learn about the economy, I would certainly encourage you to take Dr. Richman�s Macro-economics course!

This past year, I had the pleasure of taking the pahomeschoolers economics course with Dr. Richman and class. Being the sixth in a line of Prides to take this course, I was expecting a lot from it. I wasn't disappointed.

One of the first things I noticed upon entering this course was that all the students talked about everything. I mean EVERYTHING! We had some epic battles on issues of theology, presidential candidates, and the economic viability of various things. With many a bandwagon, and a couple straw men, I learned how to be argumentative and logical in this setting. If all I had done the whole semester was talk to my classmates, I would have learned a lot.

But that is not the only thing I did. Every week, I would spend about two to three hours a day studying economics on various levels. Everyone in this class is required to watch a Timothy Taylor lecture, read a chapter of our economics book, and write one to two essays every week. I think I learned the most from doing those essays, as we all got personalized reviews of how we did and what we did wrong for every essay.

We also did various economics games throughout the course, most of which I found invaluable for learning the material. I would go into a game somewhat confused about various economic ideas and come out with a mastery that only a friendly competitive drive can bring. I was especially indebted to Dr. Richman on this level, because whenever I was confused about the economic principles a game was designed around, I could simply contact him on AOL and he would explain it to me. In fact, he managed to explain some of the more complicated economic processes so well that I made a webpage! You can look at it if you like: http://www.webspawner.com/users/dragonfireone/index.html

I cannot think of a better way to foster an interest and mastery in economics than to take the pahomeschoolers economics course. The best advice I can give to anyone entering this course is to prepare for some hard work with a mind bent on learning.

Dr. Richman�s AP Macroeconomics class had to be my favorite course of the year. To start the course prepared me exceptionally well for the exam. Going into take the exam I was extremely confident. Additionally, because the course had prepped me so well throughout the year I did not have to cram extensively right before the exam. This allowed me to study for and take the AP Microeconomics exam. One of the great things about this class was that a person could spend anywhere from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours per day on this class. The way the class is structured there are a lot of �optional� assignments and assignments that can take 15 or 60 minutes depending on how much you wanted to put into it. The advantage of this is that there is always the opportunity to do more yet at the same time if you are having a really tough week you can back of on some of the optional assignments. Though to be quite honest I probably ended up closer to 2.5 hours than 45 minutes most of the time. In large part, this was because I enjoyed the class and the material so much. The games in particular really helped my understanding of certain areas (particularly the exchange rate game). Though to be quite honest, learning was not the reason I spent so much time on the games. Rather, it was simply because they were so much fun to play. You get to interact with your classmates, develop strategies, and hopefully beat out everyone else (Though Dr. Richman was always mysteriously at the top :D). The WWWBoard was another great feature of the class. The multitudes of arguments that developed over the course of the year were not only fun to join in but also helped a person to understand the concepts of economics. Overall this course was amazing. I now understand why certain things are done. If I end up going into business it will be in large part because of this class. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who is willing to put the work into it.

I was petrified to take AP Economics with Dr. Richman � really. Now I really enjoy the subject (I�ve even thought about minoring in it in college). But the class was truly amazing. First, Dr. Richman is super cool, knowledgeable, and available, which is an unparalleled mixture. I not only aced the exam, but I also actually remember most of what I learn and can apply it. And thirdly, the economics board is NEVER boring.

However, you do need to be prepared to put significant time into this class each and every day. I usually spent between a1 and 1 � hours a day (minus Thursdays which are a little calmer). The course set up is extremely clear and you know exactly what is required of you. Furthermore, there is NO busywork in this class, which is something I really appreciated. The games are a lot of fun usually (even though the Guns and Butter game is ridiculously time consuming). Essentially, if you are willing to give a reasonable amount of effort, this class is a great choice!

AP MacroEcon by DrR-- training the next generation of economists, one student at a time. posted by Connor Baer on May 15 2009 at 18:12:05

Believe it or not, I actually wanted to take this class of my own volition. Dr. Richman (DrR) went above and beyond my expectations in creating and environment in which learning economics was both challenging and fun. After having learned about economists through the past couple decades, it's not often you see a man with this much dedication and knowledge to his field of study. I highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to step up and take the challenge. The course load is rough at times, but it is well worth the effort. Two thumbs up!

Enthusiastic Review By Sophomore posted by Rebecca Sinoway on May 15 2009 at 16:43:10

I felt I was extremely well prepared for the AP exam. There were only a few subjects I was shaky on, and given the vast amount of information this subject covers, that is saying a lot.

The amount of time I put into the class per day differed almost weekly. During a few of the games (the Business Game, Guns and Butter) I probably spent a good two plus hours working to complete my homework. On some days, it took only forty-five minutes, at best. It really does vary for everyone--how quickly they work through the text book and are able to answer questions, their ability to decipher the games and come up with suitable strategies, and how well they cooperate with team members on some of the games. If you join this class, expect to spend a lot of time working on the computer, researching, and reading from the textbook. I know this sounds pretty dismal, but believe me when I say, spending a few hours talking with friends and playing the games was some of the best fun I've had all year.

One of the most valuable assignments I was given this year was taking the knowledge that was being drilled into me and figuring out how it was working it real life situations all around the world: Venezuela's traffic crisis, oil businesses, organ donations, and even global warming. Just about half the essays through December were doing this, along with a few of the games.

Did this course enhance my interest in the subject? Hmm...Before I took this class, I had no interest in economics to speak of. It was just one of those get-it- over-with-and-done courses to me. But then once I started it, it was a tremendous amount of fun and you can say my interest rate shot through the roof. :-) You'll hear that economics is called The Dismal Science, but this class makes it anything but.

There are several ways to talk to the kids involved in the class: two discussion boards that can get really busy (like having to check on it every few minutes to make sure you didn't fall behind in the discussion, busy), emails, IMing, and even phone calls. A few of the games called for mass-communication between the students, but with all these methods, I had virtually no problem talking to those I needed to get in touch with. I've made great friends this year, and I know I'll definitely do my best to keep in touch with them.

I recommend this course to anyone who has a good work ethic (given the hours this class requires, this is a must--falling behind is NOT good), has an analytical mind, and likes to play computer games. Economics needs a person to see connections, how everything fits together, or doesn't (in some cases), and be able to draw conclusions given a set of information (handy for those essays). Even if you don't think you have stated abilities, take this class, and you'll get them. I don't for a single minute regret taking this class, and I urge anyone to sign up and find out just how much fun and useful economics can be, if not for the knowledge the class gives you directly, then for the preparation it gives you for future work. But believe me, it's really hard not to get both.

Seth Brake's Review of AP Economics posted by Seth Brake on May 14 2009 at 17:21:43

Yes, for the most part. There were a few instances where I wondered if something on the exam had been covered, but when I followed the advice the teacher had given me I was 90% of the time able to figure out what was being asked.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

If you took a rough average, I took about an hour a day, and more to study afterward

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

The writing of essays was immensely helpful, especially the feedback from those essays

Yes, I had a lot of fun, even though it was rather difficult, and I found economics to be quite interesting.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

An Outstanding Course posted by Madeleine Pride on May 14 2009 at 03:22:18

� This course not only prepared me for the AP exam, it also prepared me for the future. Since I learned this course through an extended period of time, I'll be able to keep it in my mind for when I need it later on in life.

� I generally put in three hours per assignment (not including biographies of old economists, which took one hour each).. You can do the math from there. ;)

� The assignments which I found most benefited my intellect were the AP exam essays. Dr. Richman exposed my faults and instructed me on the correct path to take. I was also able to read the exemplary essays which were posted on the course website.

� I enjoyed the course, therefore I enjoyed the subject. The games, the quizzes, the chats, etc., all piqued my interest.

� I did not talk much with my fellow classmates. However, I still learned a lot from them when I communicated with them.

� Any student who has a thirst for knowledge would appreciate this course. However, you need to keep in mind that you want to learn the subject, not get an "A" in the course (although achieving both would be preferable). I would recommend this course to all students who want to take economics.

Dr. Richman's Econ course is a great preparation for the AP exam; students should be aware that they will get out of it what they put into it. Most of the work is self-directed, and while your point-earning and class ranking is motivating, it takes a lot of personal initiative to really be prepared for the exam. The games were particularly fun, and I learned a ton, not just theoretical economics but a lot about how our society works and practical applications of economic studies. The course materials were very thorough and coherent. Dr. Richman's essay comments were very helpful. I'd highly recommend this class to students who are prepared to work hard and go beyond the class requirements to ensure they retain the material.

This was a really fun course to take. The material we used was very understandable, and the concepts flowed together very well. All the paper writing, and the conversations following them, was extremely useful for the exam, and it was also a lot of fun throughout the year.

The economics games that Dr. Richman designs are also a lot of fun, as they help to reinforce some of the ideas we learned about, but it allowed for some extra fun.

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who wants to get some college credits, as it makes a lot of sense and isn't nearly as difficult to comprehend as a lot of other AP courses, and besides, it was a lot of fun.

I found Dr. Richman's AP Macroeconomics course to be very worthwhile. It can certainly be difficult and demanding at times but I found it to be manageable and ultimately successful in teaching me a lot about economics. Although it is too early to say for sure (as I do not have my grades back yet) I felt very prepared for the AP test that I took at my local high school for college credit. I would say to give this class a try.

Excellent Economics Course posted by Jessie Koehn on May 16 2008 at 11:13:57

Dr. Richman's AP Econ course is rigorous and wonderful preparation for the AP Exam.

The games are time-consuming if you want to do well. However, they are definitely fun. I enjoyed each one immensely and they helped me learn more about Economics.

I would definitely recommend this course to any student with a mild interest in Economics who is willing to work hard. I actually took the course just because I wanted to take an AP course and I hadn't taken Economics yet in high school. However, I learned so much and although I sometimes got frustrated, I'm really glad I took this class.

The Class: How It Was. posted by Michael Casamassa on May 15 2008 at 13:04:34

I liked it. It was hard and sometimes frustrating, but hey, that's what a course should be. I learned much and understand economics better than I ever have before. Hope I scored high on the exam. It was fun, especially. My younger siblings are already looking forward to this course.

A Fun and Interesting Way to Learn About Macroeconomics posted by Kyle Baer on July 11 2007 at 18:08:03

This class went above and beyond my shallow expectations. The class fully prepared me for the AP exam and I had a blast while taking it. Dr. Richman not only teaches you he interacts with you and engages you with the eco games. Even writing the essays was fun and interesting. I enjoyed the class so much that I actually changed my career choice and I decided to study business in college. Thank You Dr. Richman for making this class enjoyable, interesting, and profitable.

Excellent course, but time consuming posted by Ian Sturdy on July 05 2007 at 11:05:15

I came into this course with a fair background in economics from reading and listening to the TT lectures used in the course, but no previous academic economics work. I found that the course did a very good job both of teaching the material and of preparing me for the AP exam, due to the latter-half emphasis on doing AP free response questions.

I would estimate that I normally spent 1.5-2 hours on the class, but that could nearly double during some of the more time intensive games. On the other hand, one could probably do very well in the games (and certainly very well in the course) not spending so much time on the games.

Although the FRQs were probably most helpful, I particularly liked the earlier essays. They really got me to think about economics in a more involved and applied fashion than the AP work.

I would recommend this course to all students who have the time, and if you are remotely interested in economics finding the time would be well worth it.

This class is excellent! posted by Debbie Beihl on May 25 2007 at 15:30:19

I'm not sure how many hours of work I put into this course... Probably 3-6 hours a week.

Some of the games were really fun! But I found the essays that we wrote from real AP Exams (during the second half of the course) to be extremely valuable and helpful.

The WWWBoard was very active. There were interesting discussions there. This class has the most active WWWBoard of any class I've taken from PA Homeschoolers.

A diligent student who wants to learn would do well in this class. I would highly recommend this course to other students!

It's break, I'm lazy - I'm using the list and not coming up with a proper title, so sue me. ;-) posted by Laura Webb on May 24 2007 at 17:41:55

This is an excellent class for anyone with a least some desire to study economics. Dr. Richman does an excellent job offering a course that provides an in-depth study of economics. What I liked most about this class was both the practical applications, where economic principles were used to evaluate current issues, and the games which provided a fun way to learn basic economic principles and then see them in action. I also felt that the class prepared me fully for the AP exam without being overly time intensive. If you are looking for a class that will provide you with useful knowledge without overloading your schedule, this is the class for you!

An outstanding course that is necessary for any high school student! posted by Katelin Dutill on May 19 2007 at 12:40:37

The choice to take this class was, undeniably, one of the best choices I made last summer. Prior to this course, I had very little economic understanding of any sort � and I was (and still am) not a �math girl.� However, within two weeks or so of beginning the course, I quickly learned many things � including economic terms and how to read and draw graphs.

In the first half of the course we focused on learning the basics of economics (supply, demand, inflation, unemployment, etc) and to that end we listened to a lecture each week by Professor Timothy Taylor and read a chapter in our textbook. Each lecture and chapter were accompanied by a quiz, and we were also required to do daily quiz questions each weekday. An essay was due almost every week and topics ranged from �great economists� to �current events� (offshoring, minimum wage, etc) to �lousy economists.�

The second half of the course was intense but provided us with excellent exam preparation. We continued with our lecture and chapter per week, but started to write two essays per week. The topics of these essays were a bit different � they were essays from actual or practice Macroeconomic exams. While many essays weren�t easy (I clearly remember one or two IM conversations with a classmate in which we were desperately trying to figure out what a certain graph looked like) I learned so much through them and felt very prepared for the exam.

Of course, this review would be incomplete without mentioning the economic games that we played. Each game is designed by Dr. Richman to teach various economic concepts (such as comparative advantage and exchange rates) and I definitely had fun with these games. Two of them are �team games� and both of my teams were made up of smart and fun-loving classmates. In fact, the games and the course itself fascinated me to the point that my younger sister got rather tired of all my dinner-time economic chatter.

Last but not least, Dr. Richman is a very good teacher. The scope and sequence of the course is outstanding and he demands excellence from each one of us. While I did review heavily for the actual AP exam, I felt very prepared going into it. Since I�ve completed the course, I feel like I have an excellent understanding of the economy and I�m better able to evaluate political platforms from a merely economic standpoint.

In sum, I would highly recommend this course to every student. What you learn will help you throughout all of life and, as you learn it, you�ll have an enjoyable time.

A Must-Take for Any High School Student! posted by Stephen Green on February 25 2007 at 01:07:34

This course could not have prepared me for the AP exam any better. The range of study was incredibly in-depth and Dr. Richman took care to teach us the subjects and topics necessary to do well on the exam without dwelling on antiquated ideas or unrelated issues. If we had questions about anything we could contact Dr. Richman through a variety of ways and receive on-on-one teaching-- the conversations were then posted online for all classmates to see.

To my surprise, my interest in economics grew throughout the year as I studied more. Instead of submitting assignments and doing reading just to get a decent grade, I actually began to look forward to each next assignment because I found the topic so fascinating! The variety of work as well as the fact it is intrinsically interesting both served to extensively educate me as well as provide a fun atmosphere to work in.

This class is an absolute necessity for all high school students! The prevalence of economic principles in our everyday life makes it inherently useful to any and all who study it. Furthermore, chances are you won't find a better Macroeconomics course anywhere else!

This is not my first AP course, so I kind of knew what to expect. And the class meeted almost all of my expectations. There was quite a lot of work involved, mainly text book writing and essay writing. While there was a lot, there was not an un-doable amount. I normally put in about 7-8 hours a week. The work that I did was all very effective, and it helped me prep for the exam very well. The essays we wrote were all graded and commented on by the teacher, though I felt that the comments given by the teacher could have been more explanatory in why I got something wrong. I understood what was right, but not why I was wrong.

In prepping for the exam, the quiz questions and essays from actual AP exams were especially helpful. The essay questions made me think into how to use the economic principles that I learned, and doing so firmly rooted them into my mind. All of this extra knowledge definitely made me more interested in economics.

Working with other students in the games and studying was very helpful, we were able to feed off of each other's understandings and ideas. I recommend this class for anyone who has even a mild interest in economics, is not averted to study, and loves to learn.

This was my first AP course and it fulfilled all my expectations. I hoped for a course that would teach me new concepts, prepare me for the AP exam, and help me when confused. I found all these, and more in this course. I generally spent from one to two hours a day studying, answering quizzes, and writing essay assignments. The econmics games that we played were invaluable in that we had the opportunity to see how the concepts applied to real life- although simulated- situations. I found the essays in the second half of the course very helpful on the AP exam. The essay questions were taken from past exams and they were very similar to the questions I answered on the real exam. I recommend this course to those who are willing to study, improve their work, and try to understand how the economic concepts work in real life.

Dr. Richman has and continues to put in much effort to make this course successful. He gives helpful comments to all our essays, and posts exemplary essays as examples. He answers questions promptly and encourages us to learn via his games.

Dr. Richman makes himself available on AIM four nights a week. I have this venue extremely helpful. I was able to receive one-on-one help on aspects of the course that seemed difficult to me. Through our "conversations," I became more confident in my understanding of economics.

This class requires a lot of interaction with classmates via the daily "economics games." Though at first these seemed time-consuming, they helped me to understand economic concepts in a fun manner. By forcing the students to convert the theory into practice, the games help reinforce understanding of basic economic concepts.

By the end of this course, I feel that I have a stronger appreciation for economics and the business world. Money plays a fundamental role in today's global world and particularly in American culture; this class provides a basic foundation to understand this.

My classmates always sought to help and encourage one another via the class message board. We posted questions and misunderstandings on the board and then exchanged our own discoveries. In addition, the teacher posted his "chats" with other students, so we were able to benefit from others' discussions.

To excel in this class requires a drive to understand the material. Because each new concepts builds on previous ones, it is important to study consistently and find answers to your questions.

After taking this AP online course, I have an enhanced knowledge of economics. I can better understand economic issues discussed in newspapers, and detect fallicies in someone's argument. I also was very thankful for how well I was prepared for the AP exam. There were very few issues that were dicussed on the test that we hadn't covered. Although there was a lot of work involved in the class--I spent at least 10 hours a week completing assignments--I feel that the time spent was well worth it.

Yes! I felt extrememely well prepared for the AP Macro Economics exam. Every topic that came up was somthing that I had encountered before (writing practice essays or doing short answer questions). Also with just an extra week of studying I was able to prepare for the AP Micro Economics exam... for which I also felt well prepared.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Personally, I tend to do work in blocks. So I might all of my work for the week on Monday and then only log in to make my games moves (or discuss the game moves with teamates). However, If I had to estimate how much time I spent on average I would guess about 90 minutes per day.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

During the course of the school year we played many games to illustrate key economic concepts. The 'Guns and Butter' game really helped to clarify the concept of 'comparitive advantage' while the 'International Growth Game' helped illustrate how to fix a recession or halt inflation using the Aggregate Supply/Aggregate Demand model.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, you tend to chat with many students - especially strategizing with teamates about today's game move. I felt like I 'got to know' many students who I haven't met yet.

Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

Excellent Course Recommended for All by Christopher Green, May 25 2005 at 10:14:40

When my brother, six years my elder, took AP Economics with Dr. Richman, I was terribly envious. He had such fun selling veggie burgers and meatie burgers, conquering enemies, and doing other things which were for more intersting and exciting than long division. Six years later, I eagerly signed up for the course myself. I was not disappointed.

I recommend economics to all students, since economics is one of the very core aspects of our lives. We pay for AP classes, we flip burgers for cash, we save in banks, invest in bonds, exchange currencies to travel abroad. It is almost impossible to go a single day without encounting economics in some form or another -- and in its most basic study, "the study of choice between scarce goods" economics is present every moment of our lives; time is scarce, and how you allocate your time is an economic choice.

Economics is particularly useful for high school students, since it is then that students begin to gain a stronger grasp of the value of money as they get their first job, pay for car insurance, and actually have their own money to use. It the course is an invaluable preparation for post-high school life, whether in gaining a better understanding of college loans or what factors people consider when picking a job.

Will an economics class transform your life? Probably not. But it will make you look at the world in a new way, grant you a better understanding of personal, national, and global use of money.

I cannot think of a better class than Dr. Richman's for economics; the textbook and lectures are great, his comments are insightful, And above all, the games are both highly educational and great fun. Whether you are a future economist or starving artist, destined to be a business owner or world-class equestrian, this is a class that you must not miss.

Whether it is the quiz questions, the practice test, or the many games, this class gets you prepared for the AP test.

The business game was my favorite. It was a simulation of a simple burger business. You compete with students as you sell your burgers at prices and numbers you choose. It's your choice which wholesaler you buy from, (wholesalers are players as well) your choice as to how high or low a price you have, your choice as to advertising, and your choice as to expansions to your store. It solidified the principles of supply and demand for everyone.

Economics--The Effects Continue by Kirstin Rissing, June 08 2005 at 16:15:21

I was just thanking you for a wonderful year. I didn't know that Economics could be as fascinating as it has become for me. Well I was at the letter I thought I would tell you of an amusing story that occurred about two days ago for me. My family and I were visiting parts of Europe(Sweden and France) and I just got back today. When I got in the de Gaul airport and was waiting for the flight I found a shop which was selling magazines and news papers which is probably very basic near terminals but I found an issue of "The Economist" which I bought for the flight back. I really enjoyed reading the articles and was excited at how much I felt that I knew about the articles. I understand that homeschoolers are typically not into the popular culture and I certainly am never interested in it but I did find it amusing that on the plane there were other teen agers and people in their midtwenties reading what I would think are "popular magazines" and I was reading the Economist. Also, while in Sweden I visited the Noble Museum and watched their videos/interviews with several Noble prize winners two of which were Economics winners. Unfortunately, I never saw a Milton Friedman interview but I understood what policies they were talking about. So thanks for a great year. And, especially, for the ability to understand what some of the ideas of Economics are.

I'm just going to add this. I do a lot of creative writng and that is always fun. But I reread some of the stuff I wrote recently and noticed that I was mentioning the different schools of economics, tarriffs, the results of inflation vs unemployment, ectera. I suddenly realized how much Economics has seeped through into my subconscious and even when I'm not trying to write about Economics. It does make my story make more sense. :)

AP Class Reviews

Macroeconomics taught by Howard Richman

by Students and Parents