Upcoming Events

Spring 2010

January 4 – April 30, 2010
2010 Online Professional Development Trainings – ‘Learning, Earning, and Investing’ and ‘Virtual Economics’
Coming Soon!  FREE virtual seats to our new online professional development trainings for ‘Learning, Earning, and Investing’ and ‘Virtual Economics.’ Upon completion of the online modules, you will receive a FREE copy of the curriculum and a certificate of completion. CPDUs are also available. Courses need to be completed by April 30th. For more information.

March 1, 2010
Learning, Earning, and Investing Training Conference – Gen I Revolution!
This interactive training conference introduces educators to the Learning, Earning, and Investing (LEI) curriculum and focuses on lessons related to making smart investment decisions. Guest speakers from the financial industry and state government will talk about issues related to long-run financial security and how to avoid investment fraud. The training will also showcase Gen I Revolution, LEI’s exciting new online game where participants become secret operatives and are assigned various missions to help save the world from widespread financial despair. Each mission focuses on key savings and investment concepts covered in the LEI curriculum. For more information.

April 19, 2010
Financial Fitness for Life Rollout Conference
The national Council for Economic Education is getting ready to release its newly revised Financial Fitness for Life curriculum. Be the first to receive a *FREE* copy of the curriculum materials at this statewide rollout conference. The theme of the conference will focus on helping educators teach youth and limited-resource clients how to establish, use, and protect their credit. Guest speakers from the credit counseling industry and state government will discuss recent developments in the credit industry and implications for consumers who are struggling to repay their debts. Conference participants will receive numerous hands-on activities and resources to take back to their students and clients. For more information.

Fall 2009

September 25, 2009
Financing Your Future Training Conference - Take Charge of Your Career!
The Illinois unemployment rate recently hit 9.1%, the highest it’s been since 1992.  Many consumers are worried about losing their jobs and are looking for ways to retool, develop new career skills, and earn additional income. This interactive training will focus on how to teach youth and limited resource audiences to "take charge of their career" in today’s markets. Guest speakers from the financial planning industry, state agencies, and local businesses will discuss key employment issues facing consumers such as preparing financially for employment transitions, constructing a career roadmap, and gearing up for changing employment opportunities. Conference participants will receive the DVD-based Financing Your Future curriculum, which includes 5 videos with complementary lesson plans to help students and clients develop the skills they need to establish successful career paths and secure financial futures. For more information.

October 19, 2009
5th Annual Financial Fitness for Life Training Conference - Making Your Money Grow!
Stocks are on the rebound, but are we out of the woods yet?  Now is the ideal time to help consumers learn how to take personal responsibility for their finances and become smart savers and investors. This Financial Fitness for Life training conference will focus on helping educators teach youth and limited resource audiences to “make their money grow.” Guest speakers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Economic Awareness Council, and Money Management International will also discuss recent developments in the financial markets and implications for consumers’ financial security. Conference participants will receive the Financial Fitness for Life curriculum materials, along with numerous websites, simulations and other activities they can share with their students and clients. For more information.

October 25 – December 31, 2009
2009 Online Professional Development Trainings – ‘Virtual Economics’ and ‘Capstone: Exemplary Lessons for High School Economics’
Sign up today for FREE virtual seats to our new online professional development trainings for ‘Virtual Economics’ and ‘Capstone: Exemplary Lessons for High School Economics.’ Upon completion of the online modules, you will receive a FREE copy of the curriculum and a certificate of completion. CPDUs are also available. Courses need to be completed by December 31st. For more information

Summer 2009

July 8, 2009
Financial Literacy Conference at the Chicago Fed
This summer learn about financial literacy at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago! Consumers are facing record levels of debt, low savings rates, and rising unemployment! Now more than ever it is critical that young adults have a fundamental understanding of personal finance. This conference will link the latest in financial literacy curriculum to developments in financial markets with industry speakers. A series of breakout sessions will introduce teachers to leading personal finance curriculum. Guest speakers from the financial industry will also discuss real-world financial issues and what consumers need to know to create long-run financial security. For more information.

Fall 2008

October 24, 2008
Financial Fitness for Life Training Conference - Take Charge of Your Credit!
Record levels of consumer debt, rising foreclosure rates, and mounting bankruptcies are signs that a large number of consumers are financially in trouble. It is critical that consumers understand the impact that credit has on their financial well-being. This interactive Financial Fitness for Life training focuses on how to teach youth and limited resource audiences to “take charge of their credit” and become smart credit managers. Guest speakers from the financial industry talk about the recent credit crisis and what it means for consumers. Participants receive all of the Financial Fitness for Life curriculum materials (teacher guide, student workbook, parents guide, CD-ROM, and web links). The training also provides educators with numerous games, websites, simulations and other activities they can use with their students and clients. For more information.

November 10, 2008
Financing Your Future Training Conference
More than ever consumers need to have a basic understanding of money management so they are able to make informed decisions in today's complex market place. Financing Your Future is a complete personal finance program on DVD. The program consists of five videos that cover topics such as setting financial goals, creating a budget, consumer decision-making, investing in one's own human capital, developing a banking relationship, understanding credit and debt, and building wealth. Each video is complemented with three standards-based lesson plans that educators can use with their students and clients to reinforce the concepts demonstrated in the videos. Conference participants receive the Financing Your Future DVD curriculum, which includes the videos, lesson plans, glossary, and test bank. Also, a guest speaker from the financial industry discusses key economic and financial issues, both nationally and globally, that are likely to be at the forefront for consumers in the coming year. For more information.

November 14, 2008
Measuring Financial Success Using Program Evaluation
While numerous financial education programs exist, many providers are still struggling with how to successfully measure whether their programs are working. This financial education and program evaluation training focuses on helping financial education providers define program success, identify program objectives, select appropriate outcomes and indicators, choose suitable methods for data collection, design and administer effective evaluation instruments, and analyze and report impact findings. All participants receive numerous evaluation resources including: a PowerPoint presentation, evaluation manual, program planning guide, evaluation action plan, sample evaluations, and program evaluation reading list. For more information.

Summer 2008

July 21 - 22, 2008
Mini-Society® Training Conference
Mini-Society® is a nationally recognized program designed to spark students' interest in economics and entrepreneurship. This engaging real-world program allows students to learn basic economic concepts by creating their own micro-economy in the classroom. Through this intensive training, educators will receive the skills necessary to integrate economic and entrepreneurial concepts into their existing curricula. Participants receive 4 Mini-Society® training manuals and a student journal. For more information.

July 23 - 24, 2008
Making A Job Training Conference
Making A Job is a nationally recognized program that takes students from the initial stages of identifying and analyzing potential business opportunities in their own world ... school, home, community ... through the development of a business plan for a viable entrepreneurial business venture. This experience-based learning program focuses on business creation ... not business management! It can be infused into regularly scheduled classes in consumer sciences, social studies, language arts, math, careers/life skills, and vocational training and technology. The program also can be offered as an after-school experience, a summer camp activity, or a stand-alone course in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking. Conference participants receive all of the Making A Job training materials, including the curriculum, instructor manual, student guide, personal journal, educational standards guide, and online resources. For more information.

Fall 2007

October 1, 2007
Learning, Earning, and Investing Training Conference - Investment Basics
This interactive training conference introduces participants to the Learning, Earning, and Investing curriculum and focuses on lessons related to the basics of saving and investing. Topics include the time value of money, stock certificates and dividends, bonds, mutual funds and investment clubs, risk and return, costs and benefits, and wealth building. All participants receive the Learning, Earning, and Investing curriculum. They also receive numerous games, websites, and simulations they can use with their students or clients. In particular, educators are introduced to The Stock Market Game, an online simulation that gives students the chance to invest a hypothetical $100,000 in a real-time portfolio. Educators also participate in a simulation of the New York Stock Exchange trading floor. The conference concludes with a demonstration of Plan Well, Retire Well, an interactive website where students can learn how to save and invest for long-term financial goals such as retirement. For more information.

Spring 2007

April 27, 2007
Financial Fitness for Life Training Conference - Becoming A Smart Money Manager
This interactive training conference focuses on Financial Fitness for Life lessons related to teaching young adults about how to make smart money management decisions. Specific topics include: setting financial goals, creating spending plans, saving and investing, managing credit, credit reports and credit scores, dealing with credit problems, credit repair scams, and protecting your credit. All participants receive the Financial Fitness for Life curriculum materials (teacher guide, student workbook, parents guide, CD-ROM, and web links). Participants also receive the newest release of the NEFE® High School Financial Planning Program. This six-unit program provides students with a greater understanding of and ability to manage their personal finances in the areas of goal setting, budgeting, and saving. Both curricula provide instructors with numerous games, websites, simulations and other activities to take back to the classroom. Participants also are introduced to PowerPay, an online budgeting tool that helps young adults understand how to reduce debt and increase savings. The conference concludes with a guest speaker from the consumer credit counseling industry who discusses what happens when individuals mismanage their finances. For more information.