BaySCAN Financial Services Network -- News #8

ISSME-Future Connections has announced their Industry-Based Professional Development for Educators 1999 Fall Trip List. This fallís list includes a visit to Bank of America. This is an opportunity to visit the SF interactive banking unit and talk to employees working in interactive banking and on-line services research and development. Find out what recruiting specialists are looking for in the on-line banking industry. The visit is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, from 8:30 to 4:00. If you are interested, email your name, school, district, work phone, home phone, email, home address, current position, and a brief statement about your goals for attending this industry visit and what you would like to learn more about (to be used to match you with your job-shadow) to [email protected]. If you are interested in receiving information about math & science education issues and other IISME events, you can join the ISSME listserv by sending a blank email to .

2 Site Visit:

__2.1 Oakland Technical High School

Oakland Technicalís Business and International Trade Academy is developing a three year program. They core "Introduction to Business" with English, world cultures, math, and biology in the 10th grade; "Business Information Systems" with English, U.S. history, math, and science in the 11th grade; and "Office Technology/Virtual Enterprise" with English, American Gov./economics, math, science in the 12th grade. I recently attended an evening meeting where new students entering the academy and their parents were warmly welcomed and provided with an orientation by the student officers and by the co-directors Ms. Emery Burr and Ms. Linda Cumby.

Many Network members have identified increasing graduation requirements and the resulting impact on elective programs as an issue. Oakland Tech through their district have identified a potential solution. They are combining what in many schools are two separate curriculums-computer applications and introduction to business-into one class. Business Center 21 is a curriculum that introduces students to marketing, economics, accounting, management, business law, entrepreneurship, and international business through computer applications/keyboarding exercises based on Office97. The curriculum also includes career development, communication skills, computation skills, information systems, and the interrelationships of business functions. The system includes security, student assessment, real-time student monitoring, reporting and is student centered with activities grounded in the real world. You can get more information at http://www.aeseducation.com/.

Many Network members have identified the difficulty of providing work-based learning opportunities for all students as an issue. Oakland Tech is integrating WBL through a program called Virtual Enterprise. This internet-based simulation requires students to choose a product to market and sell on-line. Students apply and are interviewed by real business people (business partners that provide mentoring and other support) for all of the jobs from president to accountant. They are paid virtual salaries that include virtual deductions for taxes and benefits and the company pays virtual taxes and dividends. You can get more information about this exciting program at http://www.khsd.k12.ca.us/ve/default.htm.

3 RESOURCES:

__3.1 NAF-Fed Challenge

The NY Fed as developed a great project that demonstrates the real world connection between monetary policy and macro economic performance. Teams from schools in many parts of the U.S. develop and present their monetary policy recommendation in a simulation of the Federal Open Market Committee deliberations.

The objective of the program is to provide an opportunity for students to learn more about the Federal Reserve while helping to develop critical thinking, research and presentation skills. Students make a 15-minute presentation based on their research and synthesis of current data with a recommendation to increase, decrease, or leave unchanged the level of short-term interest rates. The "Federal Open Market Committee" then has ten-minutes to ask questions about the teamís analysis, forecast, recommendation, etc.

Teams are rated and the winners at the district level go on to compete in a national championship. The National Champion is awarded $100,000-$50,000 in scholarships ($10,000 per team member), $10,000 achievement award (for the teacher), and $40,000 grant to set up an in-school economics laboratory.

Unfortunately, the SF district is not participating in this program. However, I would like to talk with teachers interested in participating in a regional competition. Please contact me for information on how you can involve your career path or whole school.

__3.2 NAF-SF Fed Resources

Ron Weiss of the SF Fed also presented at NAF. He explained the various resources available to teachers that include CDs, videotapes, curriculum guides, publication catalogs, and their newly redesigned web site. Information can be obtained at http://www.frbsf.org/econedu/index.html.

__3.3 NY Times Articles

As we all know, a great way to make real world connections in our curriculum is to integrate current events. I have collected many articles that were published in the NY Times and can be used to develop case studies or problem-based learning projects. I have developed a series of folders that contain articles on the following topics: How the Fed Works; Bank of NYís Involvement in Russian Money Laundering; World Financial Issues; Structural Changes in Financial Markets; and The Frankel Fraud of Insurance Companies. You can download these articles at http://bayscan.org/download.html. Contact me if you are interested in collaborating to develop curriculum.