3 minute read
Curriculum Overview
LEARNING OUTCOMES
For the Gold curriculum, the desired learning outcomes for students are:
• To conduct research, analyze, and run through a case study on the following companies: Walmart (WMT) vs. Target (TGT) and Amazon (AMZN) vs. Shopify (SHOP).
• To play the role of financial advisor for Janella, a 39-year-old professional female, with a sizeable sum of money saved and ready to invest in one of the two companies in the case study.
• To define basic investment terms. • To follow the price movements of Amazon (AMZN), Netflix (NFLX) and Clorox (CLX) stock and the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) over the weeks that we’re together in class.
• To create a Google Slides presentation on students’ recommendations based on their research, and give team presentations on the last day of class.
• To become familiar with various types of careers in finance.
SESSION 1: Introduction and Pre-Assessment
Session 1 is focused on the following topics and activities:
• Complete the RTSWS pre-assessment to determine a baseline of financial literacy knowledge. • Understand what a stock portfolio and watch list are and become familiar with the stocks we will follow on our watch list in the weeks ahead.
• Learn the effects of the coronavirus pandemic had on the capital markets and what lessons we can apply to the future.
SESSION 2: Introduction To Case Study
Session 2 is focused on the following topics and activities:
• Become familiar with the background and objectives of a case study, a tool commonly used in business schools to educate students about how companies make decisions and about the ramifications of those decisions.
• Understand key concepts relevant to their case study: Competitive Advantage, Dividend, Earnings Per Share, IPO, SEC, Unicorn, and Valuation.
• Apply students’ newfound knowledge by evaluating two publicly traded companies and build a r ecommended investment plan for Janella Sims, a fictitious 39-year-old woman. • Learn the effects the coronavirus pandemic had on the capital markets and what lessons we can apply to the future.
SESSION 3: Case Study Research (Part One)
Session 3 is focused on the following topics and activities:
• Understand key concepts relevant to their case study: Capital Expenditure, Gig Economy, Market Capitalization, Market Share, Net Margin (or Profit Margin), Net Profit, and Revenue.
• Evaluate two publicly traded companies and within their small groups will begin to build a recommended investment plan for their fictitious client, Janella Sims. • Work in your teams with the assistance of our volunteers to fill in the worksheet for the two stocks your team is comparing based on your research. Discuss your findings so far as a team.
SESSION 4: Case Study Research (Part Two)
Session 4 is focused on the following topics and activities:
• Review the RTSWS stock portfolio and weekly stock market activity.
• Gather with your team to finalize your investment recommendation for Janella. Begin making your presentation in Google Slides using the provided slide template presented in Session 4.
• Learn the key terms related to the National FINRA financial literacy quiz questions.
• Complete the RTSWS post-assessment to help us evaluate the impact of our program and see ho much students have learned in Sessions 1 through 4.
• Each group presents their investment recommendations for Janella to the entire class.
• In anticipation of the upcoming field trip, explore and discuss possible future career paths in the world of finance and the strengths the students could bring to the industry as women.
A field trip to a local financial services firm will also be scheduled during the coming weeks. There will be a tour of the facilities and introduction to personnel, followed by a panel discussion with three or more leading females from the firm.
