Richard (Dick) RANKIN wins $25,000.00 cash prize
In ceremonies held 23 April 2001, the Nasdaq Educational Foundation and the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) announced that Richard RANKIN, a high school teacher at the Iolani School in Honolulu, was chosen as the Grand Winner of this year's Nasdaq National Teaching Awards.
winners were honored by more than 250 guests at a black-tie affair to benefit
NCEE at New York's Plaza Hotel.
Rankin's award winning unit of instruction creatively integrates a thought-provoking simulation exercise into an advanced placement economics course that he teaches. It calls upon student teams to engage in role-play, acting as economic advisers to several U.S. Presidents during different historical periods.
Throughout the course, the various teams review, synthesize and evaluate the various economic concepts that formed the basis of U.S. monetary and fiscal policy during the terms of office of their assigned Presidents.
The highlight of Mr. Rankin's unit is a "briefing" on economic policy that students provide to the Presidents they serve. Through this innovative exercise, students gain the added experience of public speaking and learn firsthand the key elements of an effective presentation.