Course Helps Educators Teach Financial Survival Skills

STORM LAKE, Iowa – Reality TV often features contestants demonstrating skills as they live in the woods, race through an obstacle course, or compete in challenges on an island. However, in the reality of everyday living, financial literacy skills are far more important for survival and are now required for high school graduation, says Carol Ehlers, a human sciences specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
That is why Ehlers encourages K-12 teachers to register for the upcoming ‘Small Change: Building Financial Security for Educators’ online course starting Tuesday, November 9 at 5 p.m. The online course supports the effort to increase Iowa students’ financial literacy, as the state added a personal finance course as a graduation requirement. 2018 Chapter 1119 (S.F. 2415) mandates that “all students shall complete at least one-half unit of personal finance literacy as a condition of graduation,” beginning with the graduating class of 2021.
“Financial literacy skills are important at any age, but the younger you develop the skills, the more time you have to reap the benefits. When we teach youth personal financial skills, they gain a solid foundation for a lifetime of financial independence and decision-making,” said Ehlers, who specializes in family wellbeing.
The educator course focuses on making more informed decisions about financial management and building greater confidence to make small changes that can make a difference.
Thanks to a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, Iowa teachers partner with Extension and Outreach to complete the course. Participants explore lessons that are timely and relevant to themselves personally and to their classroom.
Lesson topics include:
• Finance Fundamentals—getting organized, smart borrowing, estate planning
• Insurance—the basics, life, health, disability, long-term care, auto, home, liability coverage
• Investing—risk tolerance, investment choices, funding long-term goals
• Retirement—preparing for retirement, Social Security, IPERS, building a nest egg
The course format requires participants to:
• Attend a 2-hour in-person introductory workshop, which is being offered Nov. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Complete at least 4 of 12 game-based online lessons.
• Complete a short assignment to promote financial literacy. (Educators can earn one Iowa License renewal credit.)
“Educators explore research-based resources that look at strategies for handling and managing debt, how to use various financial services, how to create a personal insurance plan, ways to examine how choice of career and lifestyle will affect personal financial planning, and much more,” Ehlers said.
The ‘Small Change: Building Financial Security’ course features vetted curriculum and resources.
“A 2016 Council for Economic Education study, which included Iowa, showed no improvement in student economic education in recent years and slow growth in personal finance education. Thus, educating and training educators on financial skills using the “Small Change” course is extremely beneficial to all Iowa communities,” Ehlers said.
To register for ‘Small Change’ starting Nov. 9, visit https://cvent.me/rv0E2V. Space is limited, so registering early is encouraged.
Learn more about “Small Change” online at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/small-change.