This course includes four classes and at least six months of access to a stock market simulation challenge ($15 value and only available through educational institutions).  

Students are always excited about getting access to the virtual trading platform and building a mock portfolio, and I make sure they know what they are doing before they get started.  We spend two days covering important information, then they have a few days to build their portfolios before we get back together to discuss their investing choices.   

Students will become familiar with basic terminology about the stock market and use the terminology accurately in their discussions. They will understand what the stock market is and how indexes (the S&P 500, The Dow and NASDAQ) are used to measure stock market performance. They will learn the difference between private and public corporations and individual stocks and funds.  They will learn how investors make profits with capital gains and dividends. With some basic research about a stock/company, they will learn to make wise investment decisions.  

Once they have learned the necessary information, they will be ready to create and manage an investment portfolio, explain the rationale for their investment decisions, monitor their returns and explain why their portfolio gains or loses value.   

The first class covers lots of information, but the e-textbook includes terminology and review questions to help them remember what we discuss.  For homework, each student completes a short research project on a stock (or two) they have selected.   

In the second class, students have an opportunity to report what they have learned about their selected stocks.  There is no pressure to make an oral report, but most students enjoy telling their classmates what they have learned.  We spend some time discussing how to read a stock chart and place orders.  By the end of the second class, students will have some ideas about investments that interest them and be ready to receive login instructions for their Personal Finance Lab accounts.  

During the third class, we will make sure everyone has had an opportunity to buy something to put in their account.  We will discuss students' investment choices, then move on to the topic of diversification.  There are a couple of ways students can diversify their portfolios, so we will talk about choosing stocks from different sectors of the market as well as looking at diversified funds managed by others.  

The final class will give us a chance to cover any important content we have not had time to cover, and to have a question/answer session. 

We'll wrap up by investigating opportunities to continue learning independently using the abundant resources on the market simulation platform.  

If there is sufficient interest from students who complete this class, I will open a weekly investing club and/or develop a course to teach them to (safely) trade stock options!  

I look forward to meeting your students and helping them prepare for an informed and prosperous financial future.