M G Fikru

Turning AI answers into a learning tool starts with intentional assignment redesign

This post shares a concrete example of how I redesigned one assignment to turn AI use from a shortcut into a learning opportunity.

Jan 30 • Mahelet G Fikru

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It’s really all about people!

People sit at the center of energy decisions, helping explain why energy economists often talk about affordability, transparency, vulnerability, and…

Jan 14 • Mahelet G Fikru

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Who Pays the Bees?

Bees contribute to the honey value chain, helping explain why environmental economists value unpaid services from nature.

Jan 7 • Mahelet G Fikru

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December 2025

When Innovation Becomes More Than a Helper and Crosses Every Line of Work

If we can imagine robots doing the work of care, we should also imagine the power it could hold—and ask who decides where the line is.

Dec 22, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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From Delivering Content to Engaging Students in Teaching Economics

I recently started taking group fitness classes, including Zumba, cardio kickboxing, and strength training.

Dec 19, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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Applying for Research Assistant Positions: What Research Professors Actually Look For

With graduate school application deadlines approaching in January, many students are also thinking about research assistant (RA) opportunities.

Dec 12, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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When Innovation Walks into the House: Imagining Life With a Household Robot

Innovation shouldn’t stop at technical efficiency—it must create meaningful value for society, improve daily life, and consider environmental impact.

Dec 11, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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How to Better Guide Student Researchers in the AI Age

AI can speed up writing and coding, but it can’t replace real research

Dec 6, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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Teaching in the AI Age: Why Flipped Classrooms Are Working Better Than Ever

A shift toward structured pre-class preparation and active, in-class problem solving is helping reduce AI dependence and deepen learning.

Dec 1, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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November 2025

Teaching Economics in the Age of AI

Three years of classroom data reveal a rise in AI use in written assignment responses, prompting a need to redesign assignments and rethink…

Nov 21, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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October 2025

Sustainability and Gender-Diverse Leadership Are Powering Global Business Innovation

Firms that adopt quality or environmental standards and embrace gender-diverse leadership are significantly more likely to innovate – new research shows…

Oct 31, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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Why households do not invest in energy efficiency

Why don’t households invest more in energy efficiency?

Oct 21, 2025 • Mahelet G Fikru

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