Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT)
TimeMAPS Software and Curriculum
- Helping Educators Prepare Students for Their Financial Future
To encourage effective consumer education instruction, the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT) evaluates students in grades 9-12 for the personal finance skills required for graduation. Illinois learning standards for consumer education are high, and the state's teachers are dedicated to providing students with a core curriculum in personal finance that prepares them for adult life. Contemporary economics and finance have become an increasingly complex as globalization and other economic forces reshape the world. Financial literacy is critical for young people who will soon be managing their own financial responsibilities and finding their place in the job market. The Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT) is one way to assure that this challenging subject matter is effectively communicated and retained.
Illinois state standards are designed to help both students and educators reach the goal of financial literacy through consumer education. Meeting these standards early allows students to take and successfully pass the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT).
Why is personal finance so crucial?
Many different statistics point to the need for the financial literacy fostered by the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT). The frequency of credit card use is increasing rapidly among undergraduates; in 2004, 76 percent of undergraduates had a credit card, and by 2008-a scant four years later-84 percent of undergraduates had an average of 4.6 credit cards each, according to the Student Loan Marketing Association's 2009 Study of Usage Rates and Trends. A 2008 study by Capital One indicates that only 14 percent of teenagers have taken a personal finance course in school. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling's 2008 Financial Literacy Survey of Adults reveals the reason why these statistics are alarming: nearly one in 14 adults is getting calls from debt collectors or is seriously considering filing for bankruptcy. Forty-one percent of young adults do not pay their bills on time. There is a problem.
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TimeMAPS is the interactive solution for personal finance education
Financial literacy training in grades 9-12 has become critical to reversing these trends. The Illinois learning standards for consumer education, and the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT) can be supported through TimeMAPS Money Management & Life Skills Program, an innovative software and curriculum for personal finance.
TimeMAPS standards based learning is designed to meet the needs of educators who need powerful, up-to-date tools to better prepare their students for life's challenges, and it introduces technology to the consumer education classroom. TimeMAPS stands for Time Management for Achieving Personal Success. This dynamic, innovative program is geared toward personal finance, business, economics, career planning and life skills education. By engaging students in challenging financial concepts, they adhere to Illinois State Standards, and improve their outcomes on the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT).
TimeMAPS standards based learning is designed to meet the needs of educators who need powerful, up-to-date tools to better prepare their students for life's challenges, and it introduces technology to the consumer education classroom. TimeMAPS stands for Time Management for Achieving Personal Success. This dynamic, innovative program is geared toward personal finance, business, economics, career planning and life skills education. By engaging students in challenging financial concepts, they adhere to Illinois State Standards, and improve their outcomes on the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT).
How does TimeMAPS make teaching personal finance easy?
There are four key elements to TimeMAPS. The Curriculum CD is comprised of lesson plans, instructor guides, worksheets, and quizzes. Everything is prepared in advance for the teacher's convenience, and designed to help prepare students for the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT).
The TimeMAPS software is an interactive textbook which allows students not only to learn concepts and terminology, but to apply what they've learned through an array of interactive lessons, examples and exercises culminating in a Life Simulator. The Life Simulator allows them to make spending, saving and investing decisions and witness how they can result in lifetime success-or how poor financial decisions can limit their opportunity or quality of life.
Student Resource CDs extend the learning beyond the classroom and can be ordered in any quantity. The TimeMAPS Online Testing System, a timesaving testing and grading center, allows educators to use default questions or write their own (T/F, matching, multiple choice, and essay formats). Automatic grading provides instant results that show both students and educators how well course objectives are being met. Teachers are freed from paperwork, giving them more time to provide quality personal finance instruction and meet the requirements of their core curriculum.
TimeMAPS curriculum aligns with the National Standards for Personal Finance Education set by JumpStart Coalition. This can translate into higher achievement on the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT).
The TimeMAPS software is an interactive textbook which allows students not only to learn concepts and terminology, but to apply what they've learned through an array of interactive lessons, examples and exercises culminating in a Life Simulator. The Life Simulator allows them to make spending, saving and investing decisions and witness how they can result in lifetime success-or how poor financial decisions can limit their opportunity or quality of life.
Student Resource CDs extend the learning beyond the classroom and can be ordered in any quantity. The TimeMAPS Online Testing System, a timesaving testing and grading center, allows educators to use default questions or write their own (T/F, matching, multiple choice, and essay formats). Automatic grading provides instant results that show both students and educators how well course objectives are being met. Teachers are freed from paperwork, giving them more time to provide quality personal finance instruction and meet the requirements of their core curriculum.
TimeMAPS curriculum aligns with the National Standards for Personal Finance Education set by JumpStart Coalition. This can translate into higher achievement on the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT).
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How is TimeMAPS different from other personal finance tools?
TimeMAPS is loaded with features that enhance the process of teaching a personal finance course of study and help meet the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT). There are over 140 interactive examples and exercises designed to illustrate and reinforce concepts in the course material and engage learners. The software includes a library of more than 700 financial terms defined in context. Charts, tables, and graphs give visual impact to the lessons and accommodate learners who need information in different formats. Career exploration of 1400+ job titles in 23 areas of interest gives a realistic and in-depth look at career possibilities.
TimeMAPS uses current government economic and financial data, updating this information annually to keep lessons relevant and accurate. The Life Simulator gives students the chance to apply what they have learned in realistic applications. TimeMAPS creates "aha" moments that bring meaning to what they've learned.
TimeMAPS makes personal finance lessons more understandable and enjoyable for students, while at the same time reducing teachers' preparation time and paperwork. The software and curriculum integrate technology into the classroom. Active learning, critical thinking skills and problem solving are encouraged. Finally, TimeMAPS has been designed so it can be used either a complete course of study on its own, or as a supplement to existing courses.
To sum up, the rapidly changing economic environment of today demands that students have a firm grasp of the financial life skills they will need after graduation - a mission that the state of Illinois is dedicated to achieving through the Illinois learning standards and the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT). Preparing teenagers for their adult financial responsibilities is a challenge. Using TimeMAPS, educators can increase success. TimeMAPS interactive software and curriculum offers everything teachers need to create an interactive, hands-on learning experience in their personal finance classroom.
TimeMAPS uses current government economic and financial data, updating this information annually to keep lessons relevant and accurate. The Life Simulator gives students the chance to apply what they have learned in realistic applications. TimeMAPS creates "aha" moments that bring meaning to what they've learned.
TimeMAPS makes personal finance lessons more understandable and enjoyable for students, while at the same time reducing teachers' preparation time and paperwork. The software and curriculum integrate technology into the classroom. Active learning, critical thinking skills and problem solving are encouraged. Finally, TimeMAPS has been designed so it can be used either a complete course of study on its own, or as a supplement to existing courses.
To sum up, the rapidly changing economic environment of today demands that students have a firm grasp of the financial life skills they will need after graduation - a mission that the state of Illinois is dedicated to achieving through the Illinois learning standards and the Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test (ICEPT). Preparing teenagers for their adult financial responsibilities is a challenge. Using TimeMAPS, educators can increase success. TimeMAPS interactive software and curriculum offers everything teachers need to create an interactive, hands-on learning experience in their personal finance classroom.
