In the wake of the global financial crisis and recession, many more consumers have information on their credit reports that negatively impact their scores. New information from credit scoring companies indicate the impact of “bad” events (e.g. mortgage foreclosure) on a credit score, and new regulations mean more score disclosures. So, what does this mean for you? Tune in to this live webinar to find out what you need to know about credit scores and ways to relay this information to your students. This interactive webinar is being hosted by University of Arizona Professor and Director of the Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and Research, Dr. Michael Staten.

This webinar will also feature FEFE National Master Educator, Shelly Stanton, as she demonstrates activities from the 1.4.2 Understanding Credit Reports lesson plan. Shelly will also share teaching tips for creating relevance for students regarding this topic as well as highlight some of her favorite resources for teaching credit reports.

Watch the webinar!

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By Educators, For Educators

Incorporating the topic of credit scoring into the classroom

During the Credit Scoring Webinar, many great resources were shared to help you teach the concept of credit scoring in your classroom. Download the Credit Scoring Webinar PowerPoint presentation for an outline of these resources.

• Recorded presentation

• Q & A

• PowerPoint presentation

• Epilogue - Average Credit Profile of U.S. Consumers

For an outline of all resources shared during the webinar plus additional resources, view the outline below:

Use the FEFE Understanding Credit Reports Lesson Plan 1.4.2 to teach the topic of credit reports and scores! The lesson plan is designed in a ready-to-teach manner to have everything you will need to teach this topic. Resources to help you teach the Understanding Credit Reports 1.4.2 Lesson Plan are outlined below:

• News Headline Anticipatory Set

  • Use the news headline activity to introduce the concept of credit history to learners. All instructions to complete this activity are included in the Understanding Credit Reports Lesson Plan 1.4.2. However, the following video includes a real-life classroom demonstration of how to set up and facilitate the activity.

    
    

    

  • Credit Score Articles

    • Remember that you can use any articles to complete the news headline activity. Use the FEFE Facebook page or the FEFE Online Communities  to find relevant classroom friendly articles for the news headline activity.

    • Below are a few articles relating to credit scoring that may be used for the news headline activity:

      • Experian’s “Understanding Credit Scores”

      • The New York Times “Credit Scores: What You Need to Know”

      • MSN Money’s “Credit Score Tips That Don’t Make Sense”

• Assessment Options

  • Use the Credit Report Jingle 1.4.2.B1 from the Understanding Credit Reports 1.4.2 Lesson Plan as an assessment option. Participants will write a jingle to educate others about the importance of having positive credit history and a high credit score. View the sample jingle below:

    

  • Use the Credit Report Comic 1.4.2.B2 from the Understanding Credit Reports 1.4.2 Lesson Plan as an assessment option. Participants will create a comic strip to educate others about the importance of having positive credit history and a high credit score. Some options to a create a comic could include:

    • By hand! Use old-fashioned paper, pencil, and drawing skills to create a comic.

    • Use PowerPoint! Use Microsoft PowerPoint to create the comic. Each slide can become a “screen” of the comic and the PowerPoint can be printed in note format to resemble a comic.

    • Use a FREE online comic creator! Many online comic creators are listed in the Understanding Credit Reports 1.4.2 Lesson Plan. View the Technology Integration Options 1.0.9 resource for assistance with some online comic creators.

      • GoAnimate.com was focused on in the webinar to create animated comics. View the sample GoAnimate comic below:
         

        • Assistance is available to help you use GoAnimate.com in your classroom. View the Technology Integration Options 1.0.9 resource for step-by-step instruction guides and tips.

        • From our screen to yours! The GoAnimate Video Tutorials are also available to assist you.

• Additional Ideas and Resources - Are you looking for more resources to help you teach credit reports and scores in your classroom?

  • Honk if you like bumper stickers! 5.0.4 Active Learning Tool – Use this active learning tool to create bumper stickers about credit reports and scores.

  • Experian’s Education Center – This website includes articles, videos, an advice column and many more resources that you can use in your classroom.

  • Federal Reserve’s Credit Reports and Scores Consumer’s Guide – This Q and A section will answer all of you and your student’s questions regarding credit reports and scores.

Thank you to Experian for sponsoring this webinar!