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Case Study: A university realizes that its educational materials need to gain an edge and at the same time be made “teacher friendly”
Challenge: A leading university obtained a grant to develop materials that would to educate students on the functions of money and financial markets. The creators of the material were technically proficient, but their lack of classroom background resulted in the materials being somewhat disjointed and inaccessible.
Solution Overview: A series of meetings was held to define the objectives of the client and to discuss the most practical and cost-efficient method for achieving its goals. The first task was to assess the scope of the prepared educational materials and begin restructuring them into a more natural sequence. The next step was to drill down and break up the subject matter into self-contained lessons that teacher could use “out of the box”.
Implementation: What were seven high-level undifferentiated modules became 26 individual lessons spanning eight modules. For more effectiveness and relevance, each lesson incorporated effective teaching practices such as an Aim / Do Now and Lesson Summary.
Client remarks:
December 29, 2014
About four years ago, as Associate Professor and Program Director at Hofstra University’s School of Education, I collaborated with the Associate Dean of Hofstra’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business to conceive of, apply for, and receive a large grant from the NASDAQ OMX Foundation to teach high school students across the globe about the financial markets.
Along with several graduate assistants, we created the Minds on the Markets program. It contains 8 online modules as well as complementary educational resources that teachers can use to teach the concepts in a variety of courses. In addition, we produced 10 videos with giants in the financial field to accompany the instruction. Over 200 teachers across the globe registered to participate in the program.
After the first year in operation, the feedback informed us that the modules needed revision. We sought the assistance of an educator who was a content specialist, had a passion for the subject, and who had experience teaching high school students. Tom Barella immediately came to mind.
We are delighted that Tom agreed to join the Minds on the Markets team and has, almost single handedly, created an improved, user friendly, level appropriate curriculum.
The feedback on the program since Tom’s involvement has been excellent. Teachers across from as far as South America have shared that they can easily use the material and that their students are engaged in the instruction!!!
Tom is truly a gifted educator and curriculum developer.
Marsha Iverson
Associate Professor and Program Director
Hofstra University