Computer-based Lesson - Balancing the budget by Yvonne Lalyre

Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom Final Activity

Title:                    Balancing the budget

Learner Level:   Adult ESOL, SPL 7-8, with minimal computer skills.     

Pre-Instruction:

Verify the students have the computer skills needed to handle an excel spreadsheet. Use the Money Center’s dictionary to review vocabulary words such as earnings, expenses, savings, budget, etc. to make sure that students understand the meaning of those words in their own language.

Duration:             Two three-hour class periods

Materials:

• a notebook

• a calculator

• http://www.communitycorner.org/English/MoneyCenter/moneyCenter.htm

Objectives:

1. To have students learn to create and balance their own budgets.

2. Become familiar with basic personal finance terms.                  

Procedure:

First class period:

Budget Template (Excel) Click to download the Excel Budget Sheet.

• Students’ computer skills will be surveyed. They will start a notebook section entitled “The Moneynotebook”.

• They will go to the site and click on “budgeting”

• Click on Pedro and Mary’s images.

• Read the text on the box and make the list required.

• Scroll down and read the section “ Why Budget”. (They will not take the quiz).

• Read the first box on section “how to create a personal budget”. Discuss any questions with the class.

• Click on Pedro and Mary’s faces only.

• Use the attached excel file to build a personal budget (your budget).

• Print your budget as homework.

• Second class period

• Read, “balancing your budget”. Discuss any questions in a small group.

• Click on Pedro and Mary and try to balance their budgets.

• Discuss in small groups.

• Balance the personal budget and print, either in class or as homework. In necessary, individual help will be provided by instructor to achieve understanding of essential concepts.

• Finishing the unit will be optional. Money orders as well as checks will be discussed.

Another optional activity is to go to http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/ and discuss the national budget.

Evaluation:

1. Student’s budgets will be examined to ascertain that students are able to balance a. the budgets in the unit (Pedro and Mary) Twenty points.

b. their own personal budgets. Thirty points.

2. A vocabulary quiz can be administered. The personal budgets will be examined to assess whether new concepts have been acquired.  In addition, students may write the steps taken to construct and balance their budgets. Not all students may feel they can balance their budgets, so they can write about the reasons behind their decisions. Fifty points.