Business+Education+Resources

__**BUSINESS EDUCATION RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:**__ 1. NBEA Connect ([]) //This is a Ning where all Business Educators can collaborate, learn, and share resources with each other. Teachers can use this to gather resources from a variety of different places and expanding their connections outside of Canada. Webinars are also available for members which provide great opportunities for professional development! This resource would be great for teachers of all levels! Even if one does not faithfully check in, it can be guaranteed that when he/she does, there will always be great resources for a variety of Business Education courses waiting for him/her!//

__**INFORMATION PROCESSING:**__ 2. Accurate Keyboarding: ([]) //This website can be used to help students with their accuracy in keying. I would get my students to use this during a class while helping them with their// //accuracy. This site gives students a sample text to key and when finished, shows students where they made errors in the text and it also shows their accuracy// //percentage. This is a resource that the teacher should share with or make accessible to his/her students.//

__**ACCOUNTING:**__ 3. The Accounting Cycle and Source Documents: ([]) //This website is a great resource for an idea on how to teach the accounting cycle and source documents. It also includes 8 example source documents which// //would be helpful for explaining the different sections and the important of the sections of each document to students. It could be useful in an Accounting 10// //class.// //This resource may be useful for the first one or two times teaching the accounting cycle and source documents, but should probably be adapted once// //the teacher is comfortable enough with the material. It is a good resource for a beginner teacher. This is a resource for the teacher.//

4. Personal Cash Flow Calculator: ([]) //This resource would be useful in an Accounting 10/20 class when discussing budgets (Module 3D) or could be used in a Personal Finance class. It is important// //for students to recognize the importance of budgeting (for the purpose of paying bills or saving money), especially in their high school years before they have to// //make large payments for things such as post-secondary school, a mortgage, an automotive, etc. This tool could help students see where their money is coming// //from and where it is going. This is a resource that the teacher should share with or make accessible to his/her students.//

5. Car Loan Calculator: ([]) //The Car Loan Calculator helps students to understand interest rates and the impact these interest rates can have on their personal life. It is also a tool which// //may be more interesting to students, as many of them at this age are purchasing vehicles or are looking to purchase vehicles in the near future. This helps// //them to calculate how long it will take to pay off their loan, which is dependent on the price of the vehicle they choose to purchase. This tool also demonstrates// //how provincial (state) interest affects them. This tool could be included in an Accounting 10/20 class (discussing budgets/loans) or once again, it could be// //beneficial in a Personal Finance course. This is a resource that the teacher should share with or make accessible to his/her students.//

6. The City ([]) //This web resource is an interactive tool which follows 8 individuals at different stages of their life. It addresses issues related to financial need, loans,// //investments, and more. Students can get to know the characters, and there are a variety of handouts/quizzes for the students to complete which test their// //understanding of the material. This resource could be used in a variety of Business Education courses including Accounting and Personal Finance (to name a// //couple) and it could also be used cross-curricular in Mathematics. The teacher account on The City includes lesson plans, overheads, student handouts, and// //financial documents. This resource should be for both teachers and students.//


 * __CAREER AND WORK EXPLORATION:__**

7. Resources for Young Workers ([]) //This site is a great resource for students heading out into the workforce. It includes a number of links to handbooks and quizzes which outline important aspects of the workforce. It also includes questions for potential employees to ask the employer during an interview or immediately after being hired. Another handbook addresses information pertaining to Occupational Health and Safety regulations. This would be a great resource for teachers to use before sending students into the workforce or a great resource for teachers to make available to their students to refer to if problems arise in their work placement.//

8. Government of Saskatchewan. (2011). //Guide for New Workers.// ([]) //This is one of the resources on the list at the above webpage (http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/resources-for-young-workers). This would be a great booklet for teachers to go over with their students before students go into their work placements. It is a handbook which includes everything youth should know before applying for a job. It includes information on// //the rights/responsibilities of both employees and employers, laws corresponding to youth workers, things to include in a cover letter/resume, how to apply for a SIN card, finding references, how to prepare for an interview, and more!//

9. Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course ([]) //On this webpage are three modules for students to complete as a part of the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course. Students will begin to evaluate their own personal values and interests. They will also determine whether or not they have enough time for a job by examining their prior commitments (ex. chores at home, involvement in the community -- babysitting, volunteering, and sports/leagues). It discusses how to stay safe at work (what different signs/symbols mean), employee rights/responsibilities such as The Occupational Health and Safety Act, and how to deal with conflict at work. The modules are interactive with activities for students to complete throughout the modules and an exam at the end of each module. After completing all 3 modules, students can take either the Step-by-Step Exam or the Challenge Exam (both 45-60 minutes in length) to obtain their Young Worker Readiness Certificate. This certificate can be placed in their work portfolios to be shown to future employees. Teachers could go through these 3 modules with their students and get students to complete the exam on their own, in order to obtain the certificate.//

__**ENTREPRENEURSHIP:**__ 10. Junior Achievement, Canada ([]) //Junior Achievement (JA) runs a program in co-operation with high school Business Educators for high school students in which students are given the opportunity to run a real business of their choice. Students are responsible for making and managing their own money, which means that they must cover the starting costs on their own or by the investment of their peers/teachers/family members. The Junior Achievement program ensures that students make their own budget and manage their expenses and revenue. Students elect their own President, Vice-President, CEO, etc. and are responsible for making/selling their own products. This experience (I'm referring to the Company Program// []) //gives students the opportunity to do more than just examine business simulations. Instead it gives students the chance to experience firsthand the benefits and downfalls of starting and running their own business. They will have to come up with solutions to real problems faced by business owners and "demonstrate the importance of ethical standards in business" (JA). Remember, not all businesses will be successful, but when they are, students come out with money in their pockets! I would definitely use Junior Achievement in my Entrepreneurship classroom to engage students and to get them actively involved in the business community.//

__**LAW:**__ 11. Public Legal Education Association (PLEA) of Saskatchewan. (2011). //The Straight Dope: What you need to know about drugs, alcohol, & the law//. PLEA: Saskatoon, SK. ([]) //This resource can be used in the Law 30 classroom as a resource for both students and teachers. It would be very beneficial and I believe that it would attract// //students because it discusses criminal law as it relates to drugs and alcohol -- two factors that are very prominent in high schools. It includes a number of case// //studies relating to the rights of students at school and the responsibilities of educators, along with cases related to drinking and driving. These cases are// //directly applicable to high school students, as many of them are coming in contact with drugs and alcohol weekly. It also discusses the consequences of many// //illegal actions. The majority of this book contains great information for students enrolled in the Law 30 course, but some parts (p. 27-42) may contain// //information on certain drugs that students already know from previous Health courses. It may or may not be beneficial for students to repeat this information// //depending on the knowledge pertaining to hard drugs already held by individuals enrolled in the course. This is a resource that the teacher should share with or// //make accessible to his/her students.//

12. Public Legal Education Association (PLEA) of Saskatchewan. (2011). //Our Government, Our Election//. PLEA: Saskatoon, SK. ([]) //This resources is the teacher's guide to teaching elections. It contains overheads, handouts, and student worksheets covering topics such as The Purpose of Government, The Mechanics of Government, and The Election of Government. New educators or educators who are not completely confident in teaching about government and elections may find this resource particularly useful because it seems as though the majority of planning for the unit has been done for you! This is a resource for the teacher.//

13. Public Legal Education Association (PLEA) of Saskatchewan. (2011). //Treaties and the Law//. PLEA: Saskatoon, SK. ([]) //This is a great resource that teachers can use to teach students about treaties and their place in Canadian history. It gives teachers background knowledge on the topic of treaties and includes an idea of how to present the material (lessons), along with worksheets, answer keys, and resources. Once again, this would be a great resource for new teachers or teachers who have not taught about treaties before. This is a resource for the teacher which includes information for the students.//

14. Callaghan, M. (2009). //More Joy in Heaven.// New Canadian Library: Toronto, ON. (Note: This is a newer version of the novel. Older versions also exist, dating back to 1937.) //To give an extremely brief summary, this novel is based on a true story of a bank robber who was released from prison early. It gives gives students the opportunity to learn about the parole system and the "purposes and functions of Canada's justice system" (PLEA). Reading a novel in the class may be time consuming, but it gives students the opportunity to learn in a way different than taking notes and listening to discussions. It engages students through the use of storytelling. As I mentioned, it could be time consuming to read a novel in a Law course and because there is a great deal of information to cover in a semester, teachers may find it difficult to complete a novel study with students as well. That being said, I think students could really benefit from this novel because the story creates a great "hook" for knowledge pertaining to law. This would be a resource that teachers would share with their students.//

15. Public Legal Education Association (PLEA) of Saskatchewan. (2010). //More Joy in Heaven: The novel study//. PLEA: Saskatoon, SK. ([]) //This resource would be used in compilation with the one listed above. This is the teacher's guide to the "More Joy in Heaven" novel study. It provides handouts to give to students, chapter questions, projects, and answer keys for the teacher. Once again, this resource would be great for a beginner teacher or a teacher who has little experience teaching about the justice/parole system. The PLEA creates many very detailed resources which outline ideas for many lessons, and although they are not to be used as lesson plans. Teachers can use this resource for either giving out the exact handouts provided, or can use these handouts/chapter questions as a guide to create their own assignments. Regardless of how it is used, this teacher guide is a great resource for teachers who decide to use "More Joy in Heaven" in their course.//

16. The City ([]) //This web resource is an interactive tool which follows 8 individuals at different stages of their life. It addresses issues related to financial need, loans,// //investments, and more. Students can get to know the characters, and there are a variety of handouts/quizzes for the students to complete which test their// //understanding of the material. This resource could be used in a variety of Business Education courses including Accounting and Personal Finance (to name a// //couple) and it could also be used cross-curricular in Mathematics. The teacher account on The City includes lesson plans, overheads, student handouts, and// //financial documents. This resource should be for both teachers and students.//
 * __PERSONAL FINANCE__**