1. What’s in a Meme? The Economist’s Guide to Memes in the Classroom Russell P. Engel Assistant Professor Patrick Ryan Murphy Assistant Professor Chuck Fisk Associate Professor

2. What is a Meme? An internet meme is an image, video, phrase or simply an idea that spreads from one person Our economics memes have focused mainly on the captioning of images in a way that relates back to some economic topic. Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

3. Purpose of Presentation Brief introduction to the most popular images and themes used for making memes Instruction on how to make memes using user- friendly websites or apps Discuss options on how to integrate memes into your classroom Conclude with notes on our experiences with memes, suggestions for future use, and a chance to make your own meme Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

4. Most Popular Meme Themes World’s Most Interesting Man Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own Format: “I don’t always XXX, but when I do I YYY”

5. Most Popular Meme Themes Disaster Girl and First World Problems Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

6. Most Popular Meme Themes Sunny Student & College Freshman Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

7. How to Make Memes There are many meme generating websites, but a very easy to use website to make memes is www.imgflip.com/memegenerator Note there is also “an app for that” (Meme Generator) Regardless of the site or app you choose, they should have many of the popular images available Personally, I like that you can also upload any image you want, which allows you or your students to be more creative and original Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

8. How to Make Memes Imgflip’s Meme Generator Page Layout Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

9. How to Make Memes Other sources for Meme ideas: Movies Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

10. How to Make Memes Other sources (cont.): TV and Commercials Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

11. How to Make Memes Other sources (cont.): Your photos…or ones you steal off Facebook Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

12. Using Memes in Your Classroom Option 1: Student Assignments Focus on Major Economic Topics -Gwartney’s Guideposts -Colander Extra credit or Writing Across the Curriculum Instructions, amount of points, etc. Option 2: Insert into PPT just like comic We have created a Facebook page (econmemes) and a website (economicsmemes.com) to share Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

13. Using Memes in Your Classroom Keys to the Assignment: 1) Create memes to help you learn and remember key economic concepts 2) Make them funny 3) 1-page Write-up explaining your meme and the economics behind it Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

14. Using Memes in Your Classroom Creative process versus just viewing other memes: Seeing a good meme will help you remember the economics, but creating a meme will really help you remember the topic since you created it yourself. When thinking about your meme, please look over other memes posted on the site above. Think about why they are funny or how they get the point across and also make sure that yours is original. Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

15. Using Memes in Your Classroom How to submit? You will be required to submit your meme in two ways: First, you need to post your meme to the “Econmemes” Facebook page (this will be time- stamped and therefore reserves your meme). Second, you will turn in your one page write up (with a small version of the meme included) for grading purposes. You may be required to do this electronically to turnitin.com to prevent any plagiarism…remember originality counts! Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

16. Using Memes in Your Classroom An Example Write Up for this meme can be found on our website (www.economicsmemes.com) Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

17. Using Memes in Your Classroom Remember: Facebook Page: “econmemes” page LIKE us! Website: www.economicsmemes.com Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

18. Our Experiences and Suggestions Highlights and lowlights How do you prevent them from copying someone’s online? Follow the format if using a popular one or be prepared to hear about it Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

19. Pics of Ghent, Mankiw, etc. at the conference Pass out images for them to work on and then generate and share best ones Introduction to Memes Purpose of Presentation Most Popular Meme Themes How to Make Memes Using Memes in Your Classroom Our Experiences and Suggestions Make Your Own

20. What’s in a Meme? The Economist’s Guide to Memes in the Classroom Russell P. Engel engelr@sacredheart.edu Patrick Ryan Murphy patrick.murphy@saintleo.edu Chuck Fisk chuck.fisk@saintleo.edu