The AP Economics class, taught by Mr. Eggert, participated in a virtual stock market game for extra credit. Students played the game from mid-November and to December 14th.
The classes competed for the highest rank among themselves and over 1,000 other players nationwide.
“The purpose of the assignment is for students to learn the subject of Economics [by applying] what they have learned and are learning in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and International Economics to a financial simulation intended to educate about the nature and function of product markets, national income, price determination, the financial sector, inflation, unemployment, stabilization policies, the role of the Federal Reserve and monetary policy, Congress and fiscal policy actions as well as the open economy,” said Mr. Eggert.
Each group of four students is given $100,000 in their bank account and has to manage their own money by buying and selling stock. The stock and their prices are real-life stocks with real-time prices; this introduces students to the volatility of the stock market.
Anhdao Uong (’13) said, “In our stock market game, we have to buy stocks and do research as if it were real and it gives us a good feel of how tricky the system is and you really need to know your facts.”
While it may just be an extra credit opportunity, the game is a fun yet highly educational assignment. In a previous year, students even pooled together prize money for the highest ranking group.
The game can be found online at www.stockmarketgame.org.
