August 28, 2003

International Economic Summit Kit Available to High Schools

Idaho students will have expanded opportunities to participate in the award-winning International Economic Summit program as part of an initiative funded by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation to provide professional development for teachers and a standards-based economics curriculum to every high school in Idaho. The Mini-International Economic Summit Kit, a classroom-friendly version of the Idaho Economic Summit, is now available from the Idaho Council on Economic Education at Boise State University. The kit is packed with engaging lessons on international trade, hands-on experienced-based learning activities, 35 player’s guides, actual materials to conduct classroom simulations, assessment and evaluation materials, and Web site access. Sessions for participating teachers begin this fall.   Teachers can access kits and the fall schedule of regional professional development by contacting Julie Hutchinson at (208) 426-4353 or jhutchin@boisestate.edu. Since 1999, over 14,000 Idaho high school students have participated in the nationally recognized International Economic Summit (IES), an Idaho standards-based economic curriculum which provides learners with the opportunity to acquire basic economic concepts in their regional high school economics courses within the theme of international trade.   Working in small groups, student teams adopt countries and assume the roles of economic advisers. The teams conduct extensive research on their countries for a period of eight to 10 weeks, evaluating conditions within the countries and developing strategic plans to improve living standards. The curriculum culminates in a summit event during which multiple high school economics classes convene to implement those strategic plans through a day of negotiation and trade. Ten of these culminating events are staged regionally each year throughout Idaho. The IES also enjoys widespread usage and adoption around the world, as students in Tennessee and Russia engage each year in the curriculum.  The IES will soon expand to Alaska, California, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state classrooms.  The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is also an active partner in the IES, co-developing curriculum and promoting the IES throughout the Western region.  Other partners include the University of Southern California, the California Council on International Trade, the Washington Council on International Trade, and the Nevada World Trade Council. Due to the success of this program, the Idaho Department of Education has included the IES in its recommended course of study in economics and developed a performance assessment in economics based on the Idaho Mini International Economic Summit Project. The IES specifically meets four of the five Idaho State Achievement Standards for Economics (grades 9-12) and 19 of the 20 Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics. Contact Julie Hutchinson College of Education 426-4353 Media contact Janelle Brown communications and marketing 426-1790 Return to News home