Teaching insight by Ashley B. Simpson, MSc, Teaching and Research Associate

In our courses, we explore a variety of topics within the field of international political economy, offering students insights into key concepts in economics and political science, as well as other related fields. A big part of our teaching approach is helping students build their media skills. We encourage them to tap into their creative side and use it in ways that make learning and sharing complex ideas a lot more engaging.

There are specific goals behind each assignment we ask our students to complete. One of our more creative tasks is the short video. Students pick a fundamental concept vital to understanding more complex issues in politics and economics and create a quick, fun, one-minute TikTok-style video illustrating the topic. There are several motivations behind this assignment. First, one must understand the basics of any field before being able to explain complicated processes. For example, to understand banks' regulation preferences, you must first understand how a bank makes profits. Second, technology and communications competencies are increasingly important. Many job positions require some familiarity with social media, and all positions require effective communication. The abilities to think creatively and to communicate academic topics to a lay audience are essential for students to develop.

So far, students have taken on the challenge of this assignment with gusto. Students have used their pets to illustrate political business cycles and government responses to banking crises, hand-drawn digital art to explain FinTech regulation, and backyard barbeques to describe stock market crashes.

Go to IPE@WU Shorts to watch our selection of video clips on various topics!

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