The Expert In Anything Was Once A Beginner : Using Computers to Teach Economics

We once fantasized how amazing it would be if money simply grew on trees, life would be so easy. We soon learn that this is just a fantasy and we begin to learn the value of money and the importance of the economy.

It can be extremely challenging to teach children all about money and how to handle it. Finance is an important subject; therefore students have to learn about economics, money, and how to handle it properly. For students to learn to do so they must practice using money and having personal control over their lives and the many responsibilities it comes with. Economic decision involvement within society is extremely scarce. So how can students learn through practice? Using technology, such as computers, will involve students and give them the opportunity to make age appropriate decisions.

There are numerous websites for teachers or schools to use to teach economic concepts and the relationship between concepts within society. Some of these websites include games with financial education focus, running a business online, webkinz, the power of green activity, and the chance to watch mini-society informational videos.

Games with financial education focus could be found on a recommended website called, www.fffl,councilforeconed.org. Webkinz is a website that allows students to experience handling money by taking care of their Webkinz pet. This is an extremely interactive and engaging activity.

The Power of Green is an interactive activity for learning to save money in your home by conserving energy! Mini-society informational videos will allow students to truly understand the concept of economics by watching visual videos.

Having students their own business and sell items and services is extremely important as well. Giving students problems such as where to locate the business and when sales can take place must be solved. Students can use computers to research locations that may help their business flourish and when the best time to have a sale is.

Another interactive and engaging lesson that could help students learn economics is to have student learn all about stocks, follow the progress of companies and markers, and interact with current events. To do so teachers can enroll their classes through the NCEE website, Council for Economic Education, allowing them to explore. Using this website teachers can create student teams and have them invest in stocks. To buy and sell stocks is the guide to encourage students to learn the reason for market change.

Computers can also show students how to present information, such as the stock change, on charts and graphs as well. Many economic concepts are presented in elementary and middle school social studies curriculums. In order to encourage students to make careful career choices and learn to develop good spending habits and understand the world around them it is important to learn economics. Using the computer is a great way to find many resources to further ones understanding and allow them to practice.