The stock market game - current issue # 3

Language Arts and Technology

The Stock Market Game – celebrating 30 years!

http://www.stockmarketgame.org/

I have chosen to post a review on an educational program that can boost learning and stimulate students to apply skills and knowledge in a trading simulation. I think this is a wonderful idea for classroom usage and it involves the use of a PC and Internet connection.

My current issue review is based on the celebration of the program called “The stock market game” (SMG), a program that has been implemented for 30 years in NYC schools. SMG is a program designated for 4-12 students and their teachers and promotes different learning skills such as critical thinking, decision making, cooperation and communication, independent research and saving and investing. According to the association in charge of the program, The SMG program has been correlated to national and state standards for Economics, Mathematics, Business, English and Language Arts, Social Studies, Technology, and Family and Consumer Sciences.

Students work in groups; they are equipped with a virtual $100k and compete with other NY teams to develop a portfolio using a live trading simulation. They work together in teams, practicing leadership, organization, negotiation, and cooperation as they compete for the top spot. The setup is engaging, and the learning is a natural part of the experience.

The students are exposed to knowledge and practice of real life skills with regard to saving and investing. To enroll in this program the participants need to know simple keyboarding and general PC skills and have Internet connection. The program can be implemented during school hours or after school like a club or extracurricular activity. The students can access the program anytime from any computer connected to Internet.

According to the nonprofit foundation that runs the program, “The stock market game’ has been used in NYC for 30 years and is sponsored by many securities firms. The program is free in NYC and the teachers interested to attend or implement the game in their classrooms should visit the site http://www.stockmarketgame.org/ . This website provides information on workshops for the teachers who want to start this application in their classrooms.