Entrepreneurship with a Purpose

Winter 2013
Big Ideas Framework for Economics Theme


Framing new (complex) concepts




A. What are the Big Ideas (Essential to
know, The overarching ideas)?
A big idea is typically a:
Concept
Theme
Ongoing debate and point of view
Paradox
Theory
Underlying assumption
Recurring question
Understanding or principle

Big ideas serve as umbrella concepts, and
may be a word, a phrase, a sentence, or even
a question. They are at the core of the
subject (here, economics). They are not
basic ideas (definitions, rules of thumb,
building-block skills). Ideas at the core of
the subject are ideas that are results of
inquiry in the field.

Big ideas are the current understanding of that field. A big idea is central to connections in a
field of study and a conceptual anchor for making facts more understandable and useful. In other
words, it connects and organizes many facts, skills, and experiences. Big ideas represent the
heart of understanding of a subject like economics. They summarize what scholars have learned
they give meaning to much that has been learned.

Some questions about a topic that help get at the big ideas:
If the unit on economics is a story, whats the moral of the story?
How is ___ used and applied in the larger world?
What is a real-world insight about ___?
What is the value of studying ___?

Some examples:
In cooking, minimize waste and increase taste by using scraps for stocks
When swimming, push water directly backward to ensure top speed and efficiency
When reading to comprehend, practice reading between the lines instead of merely
decoding
In life, develop self-sufficiency for various life skills (e.g., budgeting)
In team sports, create space to spread the defense and create offensive opportunities
In science and mathematics, understand the concept of error in observation and
measurement
Entrepreneurship with a Purpose
Winter 2013
Big Ideas Framework for Economics Theme

B. Based on the Big Ideas, identify what is important to know & do (context issues):

This is where you indicate critical facts, formulas, and information that either led up to big idea
or is generated by a big idea. This is also where you indicate key terms and explanations for why
the big idea is so important. Guidelines, rules-of-thumb, and evidence are included here. For
example, what evidence is provided to support the big idea that helps us make sense of it, and
how to apply it?

In our example above about cooking (in cooking, minimize waste and increase taste by
using scraps for stocks), in this section we might note what is important to know and do
to cook the scraps for stock: the ratio of water to scraps is roughly x:y; you start with cold
water and bring the water to a boil to release nutrients and gain the best flavor, and; the
cabbage family (turnips, rutabagas, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) does not
do well in stock as these typically turn bitter as they steep.

C. What else is useful to be familiar with?

This is where you indicate information that can be referenced, such as key figures who
contributed to the development of a field of inquiry like economics and all nonessential
terminology, data, tables, etc. that can be looked up (and sometimes should be to ensure it is up-
to-date information).

In our cooking example above, the things to be familiar with might include measurements
(how many teaspoons in a tablespoon, how many cups in a pint, how many pints in a
quart, how many quarts in a gallon) as well as substation tables (how to substitute honey
for recipes calling for sugar, vegan substitutes for eggs as a binder in cooking).