Gerard Dericks (seen far-right, top row) with students in an 'Economics for Hawai'i Teachers' course taught at HPU.
The HPU Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Education’s (CEEE) ‘Economics for Hawai‘i Teachers’ course is entering its third year in 2025 and has reached a notable milestone with record enrollment. Last fall, the course educated 306 Hawai‘i high school teachers, bringing the total number of participants who have received course credit to 821. Designed and taught by HPU CEEE Director Gerard Dericks, Ph.D., the course was initially developed for in-person learning but has transitioned to an online format to meet growing demand and reach teachers across the state.
Fall 2024 also saw the launch of the CEEE’s ‘Economics Curriculum Praxis’ course, a complementary program aimed at equipping Hawai‘i’s high school teachers with the skills needed to achieve certification to teach economics. The course was designed and is taught by Dericks and provides a comprehensive understanding of economic concepts, essential mathematical skills, and proven teaching methods to help educators successfully pass the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Economics Praxis Exam.
“The Economics Curriculum Praxis course builds on the success of our Economics for Hawai‘i Teachers Course by providing targeted training and three graduate credits that count toward Hawai‘i Department of Education salary reclassification,” Dericks said. “With a 100% scholarship for the course and all course materials for teachers, this course supports our mission of expanding economic education and equipping educators with the tools to teach economics effectively, ultimately fostering a stronger economic foundation for Hawai‘i’s future.”
One of CEEE’s signature events is the annual Hawai‘i State Economics Challenge, to be held for the third year in a row at HPU’s Aloha Tower Marketplace this April. This event invites high school students to demonstrate their economic knowledge and problem-solving skills in a competitive setting, fostering a deeper appreciation for the subject while supporting CEEE's mission to enhance economic education across Hawai‘i.
To further assist educators, CEEE offers the Hawai‘i Teachers Economics Library, an online platform developed by Dericks. This free resource provides Hawaii-specific lesson plans and teaching tools designed to bring economics to life in the classroom. Teachers can access it at www.hieconlib.org.
For information on how to enroll in the free Economics for Hawai‘i Teachers course, click here. For questions or additional information about the CEEE or its courses, contact Dericks at gdericks@hpu.edu.
