Developing an interactive financial capability game
In partnership with Scotland’s Colleges
Focus group members
John Wheatley College, Inverness College, Angus College, Stevenson College, Carnegie College.
Aim
To produce an interactive budgeting game for learners to improve their financial capability.
Background
The focus group comprised volunteers from the colleges in Scotland that attended a workshop event in June 2010 on capability awareness for learners. The focus group felt there was a need for a financial capability tool that can be customised for learners at all levels and which included both income and expenditure as topics.
Action
Five colleges collaborated to produce an interactive budgeting game for learners called Money Street. Some 34 colleges were invited to suggest topics from which a learner could draw useful advice on financial matters, and these were refined into twelve sections. Learners themselves formed part of the pilot for early versions of the game.
Outcome
The sections cover topics such as earnings, bursary support, benefit income, savings and investments, food and home costs, travel, clothing and leisure. The learner moves down Money Street entering shops or organisations he or she needs, to build a picture of their income and expenditure. Focus group members were able to share their experiences as they created the questions for Money Street. The final game can adapt to all types of learners. For example, a part-time learner with a job and young family may want to look at adding wages to benefits, and will need to add an amount to expenditure for child care. This flexibility allows the game to be relevant to the unique circumstances of all learners using the resource.
Testimonial
Andrew MacDougall, guidance and international manager, John Wheatley College
“I have seen severe financial hardship sometimes leading to learners leaving their studies. Learners are working with limited student funding or benefits, and so they need to be able to budget effectively.
“I became involved in this focus group to assist with the improvement of financial education and the development of new materials in order to help students develop their money management skills, and ultimately help with student retention”.
