How to Rediscover Positive Economics for Students? Active Learning Experience (Teaching Case)*

This paper examines why Economics studies have struggled under the Neoclassical Synthesis framework, particularly following globalization, digitalization, and the 2008 Great Recession. Economics appears to be experiencing a crisis both in practice and in the classroom, where student disengagement has become increasingly evident. We propose an alternative to conventional NS teaching approaches through an active learning methodology centered on real-world economic data using the FRED platform from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This approach trains students in both contemporary economic realities and digital literacy—essential skills for their future careers. The methodology has been implemented at Rey Juan Carlos University across three academic years, engaging over five hundred students. Through this teaching case, our goal is to enhance student participation and comprehension while providing foundational guidance that other educational institutions can adapt and replicate.