It’s rare we get to attend what looks to be a quality one day conference for free. The information is below. You’ll have to get in-school coverage and provide a $25 refundable cheque. Details:

Free registration includes curriculum, meals, and door prizes!

Is Capitalism Good For the Poor?

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 • The Weston Conference Centre, Toronto, ON • 8:30am to 3:30pm

Presented by the Fraser Institute in partnership with the Foundation for Teaching Economics

Register online at http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/eventregisterteacherworkshop.aspx

Hello teachers in the GTA and province of Ontario,

I am delighted to announce that the free teacher workshop, Is Capitalism Good for the Poor?, is being held at The Weston Conference Centre in Toronto.

Historically, economic growth, not redistribution of wealth, has proven to be civilization’s most effective weapon against poverty. Capitalist institutions – competitive markets, strengthened by private property rights secured by the rule of law – have provided extremely powerful incentives for a continuous stream of innovation and entrepreneurship that has fueled the growth of production.  This workshop will discuss both the real and potential impacts of capitalist institutions on the well-being of the world’s poor. Drawn from case studies in China, Vietnam, Peru and Argentina, the internationally focused lessons employ a variety of teaching strategies that promote active learning in the classroom.

These lessons can be incorporated into a variety of subjects including:

• Social Studies
• History
• Economics
• Business Education

Concepts covered include:

• What is poverty and who are the poor?
• What is capitalism?
• Degrees of market competition
• Property rights and the rule of law
• Incentives that generate invention and innovation
• Incentives that promote social cooperation

Registration:

Register online at: http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/eventregisterteacherworkshop.aspx

Workshop is free and includes curriculum ($150 value), continental breakfast, lunch, and door prizes!

A $25 refundable deposit cheque made payable to the Foundation for Teaching Economics is required for this workshop. Please mail your cheque to the Vancouver address below. This cheque will be returned uncashed at the end of the program. Alternatively, you may submit credit card information securely over the phone. Cards will only be charged for the deposit if a registrant is not in attendance for the workshop.

Please forward this information to any colleagues who may be interested in attending. Contact me if you have any questions.

For More Information:

Contact Courtenay Vermeulen at courtenay.vermeulen@fraserinstitute.org or 1-800-665-3558 x 533.

The Fraser Institute | 4th Floor, 1770 Burrard Street | Vancouver, BC | V6J 3G7 | http://www.fraserinstitute.org/

Phone (604) 688-0221 | Fax (604) 688-8539

I was looking for a picture of two former students, who had won a round of Sprott’s Business Compeititon , when I came across a great announcement: 

http://sprottbusinesscompetition.ca/SBC/news.aspx

It appears our good CA friends have provided the necessary financial support to enable the return of the Sprott High School Business Competition. They suggest going back to the site above for more details, such as the start of the next competition.

Many good workshops were delivered at Saturday’s OBEA fall conference in Newmarket. I learned much at the Voice Thread workshop with Bill Schreiter, Screencasting with MJ Page, and Senior Accounting Resources with Mike Atkins. My workshop was a follow up from the spring conference. Workshop participants were invited to join my makeapage wiki and learn how to use wikis in a classroom. Below is some of their handy work. If you’d like to join to learn how to create a wiki just click Join Site and I’ll approve you.

http://makeapage.wikispaces.com/

We’ve been rethinking all we teach about presentations. Over the last few years it’s been called “do a powerpoint.” And we’ve tried to apply rules such as 7-7-2, meaning no more than seven bullets, seven words per bullet, and maximum two images. Wrong, all wrong! Throw out the rules and apply principles. Regarding the electronic presentation (many now using programs other than PowerPoint), focus on images and de-emphasize text. The impact on the audience is key. Below are two slideshows. The first is an ongoing one I use to present about the oral part of any presentation. It’s a work in progress. The next one focuses on what an outstanding slideshow should be. Have a look:

Need some activities to spice up your BTT and BTA classes? The good teachers at Iroquois Ridge HS in Oakville have taken over the two sites I started. They are now wikis. You can also request membership and add to the units. All we ask is you give us some idea of who you are when you apply. When contributing, append your activities to end of units.

BTT1O1

BTA3O1

There are many. Here is one that seems simple and effective. Perhaps readers can suggest their favourites. Unfortunately, keyboarding is down to a single expectation in the BTT curriculum here in Ontario.

http://www.typingcourse-online.com/EN/Aspx/Start.aspx

The next session begins on October 19th and lasts for six weeks. Sign on here:

http://www.nipissingu.ca/business/stockmarketgame.asp

CMA Ontario has a new program for grade 12 accounting students.  Encourage your students to sign up here:

http://members.cma-ontario.org/cmaw2/mith20_100.aspx

Yes it’s true. And they’ve added a banner ad. So we’re back to wikispaces.com, who are offering free wikis to teachers.

Check out our department wiki at wetpaint and btt wiki at wikispaces.

Wetpaint had more membership levels and better templates. But free is free .

Ever wonder what software is licensed for use in your school? Or what the latest version is? Try OSAPAC. If you find something you like you’ll still have to contact your IT people for inclusion onto your school image or for a take home copy.