What kind of teacher do you want to be? Early on as an economics TA, whether inadvertently or by design you will establish what kind of teacher you are. Will your teaching style resemble that of a coach, an instructor or a taskmaster? And will you aim for an informal, friendly relationship with students or will you establish yourself an authority figure with a degree of professional distance? All this hinges on the choices you make and the actions you take during your first few weeks. 

To preserve the precious time that is left, the pressure to find additional efficiency in other areas, especially class planning, is essential – and for that purpose INOMICS is on hand. There are now a whole host of online tools that can assist class management, and which make the organisation of classes easier, allow students to access materials electronically, and, by saving time, permit lecturers and professors to do things other than preparing quarterly reports. The following are a few of the best.

In this post, we will offer you specific tips on how to hone your presentation and sharpen your speech in order to give an interesting, memorable and overall successful academic presentation.

Reading economics blogs can be an easy way to get your fill of knowledge and, in many cases, they're more palatable compared with academic journals, which can be dense and gruelling. The blogs we've listed - in no particular order - are the ones we here at INOMICS turn to when we're looking for interesting, informative, and occasionally offbeat articles on a wide range of economic topics. With much of the outside world still off-limits, they also provide an excellent and productive means of passing the time. So go on, dive in.

It's the bane of most economists' lives, and it's never been so important. Jobs, tenure, not to mention reputation, all heavily rely on getting published – often regularly. Unsurprisingly, given its significance, there's much to consider when approaching journals. Where your work is published can have a huge effect on how it's perceived, how many people it reaches, and what kind of profile engages with it. Alarm bells need not ring, though, this article will walk you through the process, and ensure your work finds its rightful home.

1. Economic Times This handy news app covers the latest developments in the field of business and the stock market. If you’re looking to stay up-to-date on developments of economic news, then this app has a global perspective that includes news, slideshows, stock tracking, and push notifications for important updates. More international than other economics news apps, this gives you a perspective on economic stories from around the globe.

With vaccine rollouts now gathering pace, returning to classrooms and lecture halls will soon be a reality – indeed, in some places it already is. And with the return, will come the old challenges, most notably, when giving a lecture or holding a seminar, how best to keep students engaged? It will no longer be possible to achieve ‘class control’ through muting somebody’s Zoom account; more traditional means will, again, be needed. With that in mind, here are INOMICS’ top 10 tips to keep students present and attentive when you're teaching.

1. Moodle If your university has a CMS like Moodle, (this writer had the luxury of having access, thank you Humboldt Universität) you can upload lecture notes, links, and much more to a central website from which students can download all the information they need. You can even use it to host online class discussions (when has this ever been more relevant?) or to notify students that you're running late or a class is cancelled.

At INOMICS, we are dedicated to helping you get the most out of your economics further education and career. For more information and career advice, download the INOMICS Handbook, which contains interesting insights into the world of economics, as well as recommended institutions and study offers for you.

1. Gnuplot  Gnuplot is one of the best-established graphing tools, popular among intermediate and advanced users. Available cross-platform for Windows, Linux and Mac, its primary function is the visualization of mathematical data and functions.

Getting to grips with the fundamentals of econometrics – where the field of economics meets and overlaps with the field of statistics – is often a daunting prospect. The age-old maxim that practice makes perfect is at least as applicable to econometrics as to any other skill. Reaching a useful level of proficiency requires a good deal, and likely several years, of hard graft and persistent learning.

1. Ask for Advice It’s important to remember that everyone was new at some point. Whether before, during or after your first semester, don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues for advice and assistance. As almost everyone previously in this position will attest, other faculty members can give you specific advice about your institution and help you understand the nuances of what it’s like to work there – use them!