Inclusive and Effective Teaching: Evidence from a Liberal Arts Economics Department

Abstract

There is a recent focus in economics on being inclusive and welcoming.  One of the ways that educators can improve inclusivity is by being intentional about using inclusive teaching methods.  In this work, we discuss an initiative to implement inclusive teaching methods in all principles of economics courses at the Authors' Institution, starting in Fall 2018.  First, we outline what is meant by inclusive teaching methods and the reason that educators should consider them.  We also report on the specific changes made to the principles of economics courses at the Authors' Institution.  Finally, we examine the effectiveness of these methods by reporting on multiple metrics, including student performance and retention at the university.  We find enhanced test scores, indicating a positive correlation between tutoring and test performance.  Additionally, there are statistically significant improvements in university retention rates among students enrolled in economics courses.