Economics Class Becomes a Study in Current Events

Reinhart, who teaches a graduate course on international economic policy, said her students from Asia or South America often come with a personal understanding of a financial meltdown. But the recent news has noticeably sharpened the attention of American students, for whom economic turmoil has been something experienced either long ago or far away. In one recent session, the class of masters- and doctoral-level theorists spent much of the class discussing the safety of their own bank accounts.

"When you're living it day to day, it's much more immediate," Reinhart said. "You don't have to motivate them."

Bill Vicari, who teaches an Advanced Placement economics course at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, said even younger students are finding a personal handle on the crisis.

"The number one questions are 'How did this happen?' and 'How will this impact my student loans?' " he said.

Vicari, who has a degree in economics and has been teaching the course for six years, said his expertise has been in demand in the teacher's lounge as well as the classroom.

"Now I'm not only fielding questions from students but also from colleagues who I assume I understand what's going on," he said. "It's a new world for all of us."

In Kelly's class at Howard, her impromptu lecture led to a long back and forth among students, many of whom came armed with the morning's latest news (consumer price index stability, a bank bailout in Switzerland, of all places). After filling a chalkboard with student observations, Kelly tried to reel them in: "I'll take one more comment, and then we've got to get to our regular lecture."

Two comments and 10 minutes later, there were still hands in the air.