Stacey Boyd, Head of Global Studies, and teacher Debbie Whittle have seen what happens when students move from theory to practice. Over ten weeks, more than 130 students have logged over 16,000 sessions on the platform, exploring financial concepts in a realistic, risk-free environment.
Beyond the worksheet
For Debbie Whittle, Banqer filled a gap that traditional teaching methods couldn't.
Banqer offers more than what's in the curriculum, and I'm very passionate about teaching the students real world skills.
That practical focus is exactly what Stacey was looking for. Banqer provides the students with a practical approach to solving problems and making decisions that they're going to have to do in real life,
she says, saving, investing, investing in the stock market, whether or not they rent or buy a home.
The students notice the difference too. It's not just about saving money,
one Year 10 student explains. It's also about knowing where your money's going and looking at your expenses and making sure you have enough money as well.
Learning in a controlled environment
One of the things both teachers value most is the ability to let students make real decisions without real consequences.
Banqer allows us to really apply the skills in the classroom and in a controlled environment where they're not making mistakes with real money
says Stacey.
The teacher dashboard gives Debbie visibility and control over how the programme unfolds. On the teacher dashboard, you can always see how they're doing. What I enjoy is the fact that we can control what they see, when they see it, so you open up each unit of work at a time as you teach it.
That sequenced approach means financial concepts land in a logical order, supported by what students have already covered in class. And when it comes to how well it works across a diverse cohort, Stacey is clear: It works really well for a wide range of diverse learners, and allows us to differentiate for all students.
What students are actually doing
Inside the platform, students are making the kinds of decisions most teenagers haven't had to think about yet — and they're fully invested.
I've described Banqer as almost like a game,
says one student. It's so realistic, so that in the future, when we do have to do these things in real life, we know exactly what to do and how to manage it.
Some are navigating the stock market for the first time. The most interesting thing I've learned is definitely the share prices and knowing when to put money in and put money out,
one student says. I think at the moment I've lost $100 — I went up a bit.
Others are dealing with the realities of homeownership. I'm currently in debt because I've just bought a house,
another student notes, matter-of-factly.
For many, the concepts that surprised them most were the ones they'd never encountered before. It's been very eye opening towards some aspects of financial literacy, especially superannuation and taxation. I think they're the two biggest things.
Practical competence, not just theory
Stacey describes a shift in how students engage once they move from learning about financial concepts to applying them.
I have rarely seen students as excited as when they get to enter the Banqer platform and test out what they've just learned.
That excitement translates directly into understanding. There's no better way to get that immediate feedback and allow the students to practice the theory they've learned and maybe practiced on a worksheet, but then they get to try it on their own, and that's powerful.
For Debbie, the simplicity of the platform is part of what makes it work. Students have found it very easy to use. The program is very intuitive. I found it such an easy way to teach financial literacy.
The students put it plainly. I definitely think everyone should learn about money. The impact, to me, has been amazing.
Another adds: I think learning about money is important because it's something that everyone has to deal with, no matter where you end up in life.
