Thank you for becoming a Volunteer forJA Finance Park

Curriculum Sponsored by:

Volunteer Role

• Provide student guidance and assistance• Facilitate group activities• Lead group discussions• Monitor student progress• Distribute and collect materials• Contribute personal experience to

student learning

Working with Students

At the start of the day we review:• The visiting school• Student demographics• Student characteristics• Managing your group

Simulation Tools

Students are provided with a tablet that runs JA’s Finance Park app.

Volunteers are given a Volunteer Guide to help them lead students through the program.

Tap and Swipe NavigationSome students may need your help learning to use the tablet. JA Staff is available to assist you.

Program Overview

• Set-up and Savings• Research• Budget• Shopping and

Payment• Check Out

The program is broken into five sections:

Group Introduction

• Watch the opening PowerPoint

• Introduce yourselves to students

• Discuss the model budget in your Volunteer Guide

Before the simulation begins, you will have time to meet with your group. During this time you will:

Model Budget

Discuss similarities and differences

Any surprises?How is budget different

from a teen’s?

Section 1: Set Up

• Distribute tablets• Use sign-out sheet to

record each student’s name and tablet number

• Launch app with students

Students Log InThey will enter:• Account #• Name

Select from drop box:• Gender• School• Teacher• Grade

Lifestyle QuestionsStudents will be prompted to answer lifestyle questions. Assist them, if necessary, by sharing your own experience.

Personas

Share personas as a group.Students will likely focus on marital status and income, but be sure to discuss their credit scores, the meaning of a credit score, and why it’s important.

All personas have savings and existing debt. Discuss with students where this savings and debt comes from (retirement, student loans, etc.).

Students are assigned unique personas which will get them started with their JA Finance Park experience.

NMI – Drag and DropStudents will drag and drop financial information, like taxes, to help calculate their net monthly income (NMI). When finished, the tablet screen will lock.

Group Savings DiscussionBefore unlocking the savings screen, pause to discuss savings with the students. There are prompts and suggestions in the Volunteer Guide.

Formative Questions

Throughout the day, students will be prompted to answer questions that gauge their financial knowledge. Help them as necessary.

SavingsThe savings page will show students examples of what portion of their NMI they could save. Students may choose, however, to save any amount they wish. All fields must be filled in. When finished, the tablet screen will lock.

Section 2: ResearchDuring the research section you will move with your group and visit each business in the Park. You will give your students the tablet unlock code at each business to reveal the research information.

Research Tips• Walk as a group to each business• Use talking points, such as personal examples,

to share information about that business. Look in the Volunteer Guide for suggestions

• Give students business ID (tablet unlock) code • Engage students in questions & discussion

*You and your group will visit each business*

Business IDEach business has a unique ID code to unlock the tablets. These codes are in the Volunteer Guide as well as on the laptops in the businesses.

Category OptionsOnce unlocked, the tablets will display options and information pertinent to that business. Students should read all information.

Apply for LoansIn a few businesses (transportation, housing), students will be prompted to apply for a loan. They must complete this step during the research section.

Section 3: Budget

When research is complete, return to your home business with your group and assist them with the creation of their budgets.

BudgetingStudents will make budget choices for every category, keeping in mind their family situation and NMI. The app suggests ranges to stay within, but students may allot their money as they choose. They will not, however, be allowed to go over their NMI.

Allocating NMI

Students must allocate their entire NMI to the categories in their budget. They may not have money left over. After this, the

tablets will lock before beginning the shopping phase. The amount they have left to budget is displayed on the top right their

tablets.

Section 4: ShoppingDuring the shopping section, students will see a screen similar to the research section. Each category will display whether or not shopping is done or, in some cases, not required.

Category Options

Using each business’s ID (unlock code), students will be presented with shopping options.

Budget bar

Students can monitor whether their choices fall within their budget by watching the green bar at the top of their tablet screens.

Budget warning

If the bar turns red, it means the student has exceeded the budgeted amount for that category. Students may choose to do this, but they will have to spend less elsewhere to avoid spending more than their NMI.

Life Scenario Button

Students can return their persona page at any time by clicking the Life Scenario button.

Budget Button

Students can return to their budget screen at any time by clicking the Budget button at the top of the screen.

Shopping Reminders• Students must complete all

shopping categories unless it states that shopping is not required (for example, a childless persona need not shop for child care).

• Selections must not total more than their NMI.

• If a student has money left over, encourage them to put it towards savings, education, or investment.

Section 5: Payment• Students should be in their home business and wait for JA Staff to announce the start of the payment section. • Their tablets will be locked. Wait until announcement to give them the unlock code.• At this time, you may distribute the debit cards that match each students’ tablet number.

Payment Methods

Students will be using two methods of payment during this phase. Their debit card, and online payments using only their account number. Please review instructions for both methods with them before their begin the payment process.

Debit Card Payments Step 1

Students tap the business icon on their tablet and enter the business ID.

Debit Card Payments Step 2

Click icon the category icon on the business laptop, i.e. “Dining Out”

Swipe debit card

Debit Card Payments Step 3

Students enter their PIN on business laptop

Debit Card Payments Step 4

Wait for confirmation that payment was successfully made and click “Close”

Online Payments Step 1

Students tap the business icon on their tablet and enter the business ID

Online Payments Step 2

Confirm payment

Online Payments Step 3

Wait for confirmation that payment was successfully made and click “Close”

Lifestyle Questions Repeated At the end of the

payment section the lifestyle questions from the morning are repeated. This helps students gauge how their attitudes towards finances may have changed.

Budget Review

Once students have answered the lifestyle questions the their budget review report will appear on their tablet. Review this with each student and answer any questions they may have. Did they have money left over? Are they saving enough? This is another opportunity for you to share your personal experience to better guide them.

Check Out

At the end of the day you will:• Ensure all tablets are signed in and

collected• As for final thoughts and feedback• Keep your students with you until dismissal

Curriculum Sponsored by:

JA Finance Park couldn’t happen without our dedicated volunteers.

We look forward to working with you!