iconomix

Swiss National Bank

iconomix newsletter winter 2009

Great reward for good work: the iconomix award

Editorial

Dear reader

iconomix – the modular teaching programme on economics developed by the Swiss National Bank – is being used more and more by teachers in upper secondary schools and is greatly appreciated by students. With the iconomix award, our nationwide contest, we would like to give students an added incentive to take a greater interest in economic issues. Many of them have already done all the work. Now it’s time to be rewarded for a job well done. Why not motivate your students to participate?

The closing date for participation in the first contest is 15 March 2009.

Manuel Wälti and Michael Manz

PS: By the way, this is the first edition of our new iconomix newsletter. Find out more below, under the heading Subscribe to iconomix newsletterhttp://www.iconomix.ch/en/service/newsletter/archive/0901/#c2726.

One competition, two categories

iconomix award is open to all students of Swiss upper secondary schools.
To participate in category 1, they have to answer one of the challenge questions from the iconomix modules in the form of an essay. They may work alone or in groups of up to four members.
Participation in category 2 requires students to submit an independent project on an economics-related topic. The submission can be either a written or non-written piece of work (non-written work includes films, podcasts, games, websites, etc.). The only condition is that the project was submitted to the student’s school between March 2008 and March 2009.
Students can win iconomix awards in bronze, silver and gold as well as some prize money.

A new look

The iconomix award website was specifically redesigned with its target group – students – in mind. Its new visual appearance acts as a window to the world of economics and immediately draws the visitor in. You will recognise this new look in other methods of communication that we use to spread the word about the iconomix award in schools. More on this in Need help getting them on board?http://www.iconomix.ch/en/service/newsletter/archive/0901/#c2797 below.

What school will come out tops?

Students are not the only winners with iconomix award – the “Best iconomix school” award is also up for grabs! The Swiss National Bank will bestow a special prize on the school with the most winning submissions. Actually on six schools... one for each of the categories of upper secondary school in Switzerland. The lucky schools will be allowed to hold onto the title for a year. Not only that, the SNB will also give them a half-day iconomix workshop worth CHF 1,000 – yet another reason to motivate your students to participate!

Need help getting them on board?

How would you like to inform your students about the iconomix award? We would be happy to provide you with small posters to hang up in classrooms as well as postcards to hand out to students. Flyers for teachers and a set of slides for a presentation in class are also available and can be ordered online.

Subscribe to iconomix newsletter

The iconomix newsletter will be published from now on four times a year in German, French, Italian and English. It provides information on modifications and updates to the iconomix.ch platform, the Swiss National Bank’s teaching programme.