Shop Teacher Starts Own Economy and Currency
If one was to ask what I teach, my first answer would be students.
I teach shop and CAD to grades 6–12. In both CAD and Shop, 1st time enrolled, or 6th time enrolled students may be in the same class. I am in a rural school (about 115 students total) and my class sizes max out at about 15, and I’ve had classes as small as four.
Many shop classes operate under a “shop fee” system. If a student builds a cutting board, students calculate the cost of the material and pay for the material. I have two bones to pick with this model. First, a shop fee of even $5 is a completely different amount of “skin-in-the-game” from student to student. Secondly, the money invested makes room for failure tough to dance around. Five dollars for one student may be their weekend food allowance, while another student could lose a $5 bill and experience minimal-to-no consequences, and may not even care. I have seen both scenarios. Leaving room for failure is important for the learning experience. Teaching is extremely tough when serving the god of money and the god of learning simulatneously.
I decided I wanted to nix the “shop fee” system. I have instead started an in-house economy.
Students build a project. We sell the project. Profits and losses are credited to students’ accounts. Students may purchase their own projects at cost, but students must have enough funds in their account to start a new project.
When students don’t have adequate funds, students will be delegated a service project for the school, community, and/or another teacher. The service project will put financial credits back in their account upon completion.
As I get more experienced in running a classroom economy I will add layers of complexity as I deem them beneficial. A future addition to the system will allow students to build beyond their balance; IF, they can achieve the investment of their peers. Students can invest a portion of their balance in their peers. Students will make their investment decision based off of pitches that their peers make almost shark tank style.
I have ideas of running periodic “auctions” where we auction off donated tools, swag, and fun items students can purchase with credits available in their account.
Incorporating an economy has been an exciting learning curve, and I hope this post will encourage my persistance in this endeavour as well as inspire others to implement similar ideas, reachout, and collaborate. Find me at jack.of.all.learning or JackOfAllLearnn on most social media platforms.