Test Drive Reality Fair

 

Preparing For Test Drive

The Test Drive… Next Stop Reality® classroom curriculum allows students to choose a career and research the required education for that job. They then calculate the average monthly starting salary for that career and their expected student loan debt. Lastly, the students are randomly assigned a family status. They will use this information to make their purchase decisions on the day of the event.

Running the Simulation

During the hands-on simulation, students visit a variety of stations to make key life decisions and manage a monthly budget. Students are required to live within their selected career’s monthly salary while paying for things like student loans, insurance, housing, and groceries, as well as accounting for additional expenses like entertainment, pets, and life’s surprises!

Impacts & Education

The event is staffed by Royal team members and community volunteers who offer advice and help guide the students, but participants ultimately make their own purchase decisions. Many students find out that making it on their own isn’t easy, and learn that the choices they make today will have a lasting impact on their future. Students’ knowledge of basic financial terms and concepts is assessed before and after the program to measure both knowledge and attitudinal gains. 

Contact us if you would like to learn more about Test Drive... Next Stop Reality® at testdrive@rcu.org

 

 

Preparing for Test Drive Digital

Test Drive Digital can be delivered either synchronously or asynchronously using Google Classroom, Xello, Canvas, or other avenues. Once we have determined the platform you will be using, Royal team members set each teacher up with their own unique classroom and necessary links.

Running the Simulation

Students begin with a short pretest. They get to choose their level of education and career, but they are randomly assigned their marital and family status, as well as their credit score. Using the Income and Transaction Log, students calculate their net monthly salary and track their expenses.

There are 11 short video lessons and a few surprises along the way, helping students learn that life is anything but predictable. The lessons covered are:

Once the students have finished the lessons and turned in their Income and Transaction Log to their teacher, they finish the simulation by completing a posttest.

Impacts and Education

Many students find out that making it on their own isn’t easy, and learn that the choices they make today will have a lasting impact on their future. Students’ knowledge of basic financial terms and concepts is assessed before and after the program, allowing measurement of knowledge gains and attitudinal changes. Royal’s financial education team is available for technical support and guidance throughout the program.

Test Drive Digital has received both the 2020 Wisconsin Governor’s Award for Financial Literacy and the 2021 Desjardins Youth award from the Wisconsin Credit Union League.

Contact us if you would like to learn more about Test Drive Digital at testdrive@rcu.org

 

 

Preparing for Test Drive Mobile

While a traditional Test Drive…Next Stop Reality® event has 22 stations, Test Drive Mobile only uses 11 stations, but the same conversations will be had with students. For example, instead of visiting the car dealership, convenience store and automotive insurance stations as they would at a Test Drive…Next Stop Reality® event, all of these conversations will take place at the single transportation station. Since there are fewer stations, fewer volunteers are needed to run the event which allows us the flexibility to offer the experience to smaller groups.

Running the Simulation

Students begin the simulation by taking a short, five question pretest. Once that is completed, they receive a code which allows them to choose from 40 different careers. Once they have selected a career they will be shown additional information about their family, current debts and insurance premiums. They will be asked to walk around and make purchases at 11 different stations while staying within their monthly budget. At the end, students will be asked to answer the same five questions they answered at the beginning of this event.

Impacts & Education

The event is staffed by Royal team members and community volunteers who offer advice and help guide the students, but participants ultimately make their own purchase decisions. Many students find out that making it on their own isn’t easy, and learn that the choices they make today will have a lasting impact on their future. Students’ knowledge of basic financial terms and concepts is assessed before and after the program to measure both knowledge and attitudinal gains. 

 

Contact us if you would like to learn more about Test Drive Mobile at testdrive@rcu.org

 

 

Preparing for Test Drive Express

There is no preparation required prior to the simulation if you wish to use random assignment of careers (based on education level that students’ choose the day of the event). If a teacher would like to do college and career exploration prior to our visit and use those results to complete Test Drive Express, we offer lesson materials for them to use with their students. Additionally, we share a link to a pretest with each teacher and ask that they have their students complete it prior to our visit.

Running the Simulation

The Royal financial educator uses a PowerPoint presentation to deliver the lesson. Students follow along by utilizing purchase decision guides, transaction logs and calculators. Each step of the process is thoroughly explained and shows examples, making it easy for students to stay on track. Guided by the presenter, students discuss, choose, and budget for items in eight different categories such as housing and transportation. At the end of the simulation, students are asked to complete a posttest.

Impacts & Education

Many students find out that making it on their own isn’t easy, and learn that the choices they make today will have a lasting impact on their future. Having a group discussion with participants once they’ve finished helps them reflect on their choices and gain perspective from the choices their peers made. Students’ knowledge of basic financial terms and concepts is assessed before and after the program to measure both knowledge and attitudinal gains.

Contact us if you would like to learn more about Test Drive Express at testdrive@rcu.org