Le projet de finances/A finance project

A few years ago, I decided to do something different when studying exponential functions related to finance.  In the past, I had always taught in a very static way, assigning homework with a test at the end.  However, the students seemed to want to know more. They asked questions about how interest worked and they were curious about money…who isn’t?

I also read about the state of financial literacy in our country, as well as student endebtment.  The students in my 3U math class would be graduating in a year and a half and with tuition fees on the rise, they can easily spend between $60,000 to $80,000 by the time they graduate.  To top that off, most of them aren’t even sure how loans and investments work.

So, there is the inspiration for this project and my goal : HELP STUDENTS PLAN TO GRADUATE FROM THEIR POSTSECONDARY STUDIES WITHOUT STUDENT DEBT!!!

Avant ce projet, nous avons étudié :

• les fonctions polynômes, exponentielles, radicales, rationnelles et périodiques
• les fonctions discrètes
• les différentes représentations de ces fonctions
• la manipulation algébrique de équations de ces fonctions
• la résolution de problèmes

Donc, je couvre la matière du curriculum dans 10 jours de classe avec le projet de recherche intégré dans les leçons.

I use videos as homework to cover the use of the different formulas.  Here is a link to the playlist of videos, where every song used is one about money :).

They will also answer questions from the course book in order to practice using the formulas.  I assess this knowledge and comprehension at different moments throughout the two weeks via conversation, observation and exit tickets.

Additionally, in order to make these formulas come to life and apply them, I have the students do research at night.  This research consists of going on the web, calling financial institutions, calling universities, talking to their parents…As a group class, we share our findings and discuss every period for a good 30 minutes.  The students are asked to keep track of their findings in a document that I share on Google Classroom.

I recommend the following website for the research (aussi disponible en français).

I also recommend the book MONEY AND YOUTH (LES JEUNES ET L’ARGENT) which is a collaboration between Investors Group and the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education.

Avec ces ressources, les élèves feront de la recherche sur :

• Les CPG, les obligations d’épargne, les fonds commun de placement
• Un RÉÉE
• Les cartes de crédit
• Les prêts étudiants, incluant la RAFEO

Ils vont aussi faire des activités de lecture et de casse-tête d’experts avec cette ressource. Voici un dossier qui contient des plans de leçons pour les sessions de lectures et d’échange collaboratif.

Finalement, j’invite un planificateur financier à ma classe pour répondre à leurs questions et pour leur présenter d’autres concepts financiers importants.

The visit from the financial planner is probably their favourite moment.   This is when they ask their most burning questions, the ones I couldn’t always answer.  I make sure to invite him near the end of the our research.  I encourage the students to reflect on their questions, ask good questions that will help them with their financial plan.  As the infamous saying goes  :

Failing to plan is planning to fail!

I presented this project at two conferences this year and this presentation includes all the links to the resources I use, including examples of student work.

Présentation à l’AFEMO

OAME Presentation