It was way back, I think in 2002, I started Samsa.biz. Originally the reason was to keep track of all the great websites useful to the teaching of business studies. No delicious.com then. As well, I quickly created a BTT site to store all the activities for that course, primarily to avoid a ton of printing. I never realized the site would be so popular. I referred to it during many workshops around the province and the greeting was always a warm and receptive one.
Thanks for all the visits and keep coming back. I do update Samsa.biz when I edit a document or find a really good link to share.
While searching for stock market simulations I came across a fabulous site provided by our good friends at the University of Western Ontario. The resources include many interactive games on topics such as Personal Finance and Fraud and also case studies for use in the classroom. Check them out:
http://www.edu.uwo.ca/TeacherResources/S_Business_Studies.html
Welcome back and Happy 2010! It’s hard to believe we’re ten years into a new decade. Remember the 2K0 problem? And also remember the dot.com stock market frenzy? I got caught and did lose a tidy five digit investment, with a company I was somewhat involved with to boot. Still have the shares. But 43000 x zero is still zero 
.
Now I am a much better investor, I think. I try to stay informed as opposed to having a financial adviser, who suggested one mutual fund after another. My method is to use Google Reader to have several excellent blogs on investing send posts to me. Below is a sample of the ones I read regularly:
http://www.canadiancapitalist.com/
http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/
http://www.milliondollarjourney.com/
http://www.intelligentspeculator.net/
I’ll not recommend any stocks. Been there, done that. I am however strong on ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds). They have a much smaller annual fee (0.15 – 0.55 or thereabouts) and can be traded like a stock. Follow a sector or the whole market. I don’t mind being up and down with the market. Most mutual funds under perform relative to the market, so why bother with the excessive fees? The blogs above are also useful if you deliver the Building Financial Security course.
Is Capitalism Good for the Poor – free one day conference in Toronto
It’s rare we get to attend what looks to be a quality one day conference for free. The information is below. You’ll have to get in-school coverage and provide a $25 refundable cheque. Details:
Free registration includes curriculum, meals, and door prizes!
Is Capitalism Good For the Poor?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 • The Weston Conference Centre, Toronto, ON • 8:30am to 3:30pm
Teacher Workshop
Presented by the Fraser Institute in partnership with the Foundation for Teaching Economics
Register online at http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/eventregisterteacherworkshop.aspx
Hello teachers in the GTA and province of Ontario,
I am delighted to announce that the free teacher workshop, Is Capitalism Good for the Poor?, is being held at The Weston Conference Centre in Toronto.
Historically, economic growth, not redistribution of wealth, has proven to be civilization’s most effective weapon against poverty. Capitalist institutions – competitive markets, strengthened by private property rights secured by the rule of law – have provided extremely powerful incentives for a continuous stream of innovation and entrepreneurship that has fueled the growth of production. This workshop will discuss both the real and potential impacts of capitalist institutions on the well-being of the world’s poor. Drawn from case studies in China, Vietnam, Peru and Argentina, the internationally focused lessons employ a variety of teaching strategies that promote active learning in the classroom.
These lessons can be incorporated into a variety of subjects including:
- Social Studies
- History
- Economics
- Business Education
Concepts covered include:
- What is poverty and who are the poor?
- What is capitalism?
- Degrees of market competition
- Property rights and the rule of law
- Incentives that generate invention and innovation
- Incentives that promote social cooperation
Registration:
Register online at: http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/eventregisterteacherworkshop.aspx
Workshop is free and includes curriculum ($150 value), continental breakfast, lunch, and door prizes!
A $25 refundable deposit cheque made payable to the Foundation for Teaching Economics is required for this workshop. Please mail your cheque to the Vancouver address below. This cheque will be returned uncashed at the end of the program. Alternatively, you may submit credit card information securely over the phone. Cards will only be charged for the deposit if a registrant is not in attendance for the workshop.
Please forward this information to any colleagues who may be interested in attending. Contact me if you have any questions.
For More Information:
Contact Courtenay Vermeulen at courtenay.vermeulen@fraserinstitute.org or 1-800-665-3558 x 533.
The Fraser Institute | 4th Floor, 1770 Burrard Street | Vancouver, BC | V6J 3G7 | http://www.fraserinstitute.org/
Phone (604) 688-0221 | Fax (604) 688-8539
I was looking for a picture of two former students, who had won a round of Sprott’s Business Compeititon , when I came across a great announcement:
http://sprottbusinesscompetition.ca/SBC/news.aspx
It appears our good CA friends have provided the necessary financial support to enable the return of the Sprott High School Business Competition. They suggest going back to the site above for more details, such as the start of the next competition.
Many good workshops were delivered at Saturday’s OBEA fall conference in Newmarket. I learned much at the Voice Thread workshop with Bill Schreiter, Screencasting with MJ Page, and Senior Accounting Resources with Mike Atkins. My workshop was a follow up from the spring conference. Workshop participants were invited to join my makeapage wiki and learn how to use wikis in a classroom. Below is some of their handy work. If you’d like to join to learn how to create a wiki just click Join Site and I’ll approve you.
We’ve been rethinking all we teach about presentations. Over the last few years it’s been called “do a powerpoint.” And we’ve tried to apply rules such as 7-7-2, meaning no more than seven bullets, seven words per bullet, and maximum two images. Wrong, all wrong! Throw out the rules and apply principles. Regarding the electronic presentation (many now using programs other than PowerPoint), focus on images and de-emphasize text. The impact on the audience is key. Below are two slideshows. The first is an ongoing one I use to present about the oral part of any presentation. It’s a work in progress. The next one focuses on what an outstanding slideshow should be. Have a look:
Need some activities to spice up your BTT and BTA classes? The good teachers at Iroquois Ridge HS in Oakville have taken over the two sites I started. They are now wikis. You can also request membership and add to the units. All we ask is you give us some idea of who you are when you apply. When contributing, append your activities to end of units.
There are many. Here is one that seems simple and effective. Perhaps readers can suggest their favourites. Unfortunately, keyboarding is down to a single expectation in the BTT curriculum here in Ontario.
The next session begins on October 19th and lasts for six weeks. Sign on here:
