Technology in Education - teaching business concepts.
One of my main focuses is technology implementation in educational contexts. These are my quick thoughts on introductory economics/business concepts in relation to The Lemonade Game.
The Lemonade Game has been around for a number of years now, but can still be used as a valuable tool in teaching students the concept of inquiry. While it is entertaining to students, it is also a serious game, requiring them to hypothesize the effects of certain business and financial decisions, analyze their hypotheses after a given amount of time and then make adjustments accordingly. The students also have to account for the effects of weather on their business.
While the Lemonade Game could be used across of range of grade levels, it is a great way to introduce upper-elementary students to economics using terms such as: pricing, quality control, inventory control, purchasing supplies, product, demand, and satisfaction. While these terms are not necessarily technological, they are economical and technology in this instance in simply used as a tool to teach economics from an inquiry perspective.
Additionally, while more than one standard could be attached to this software, I believe NETS for students standard 8 is particularly useful here: “use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.” The Lemonade Game is centered around inquiry, problem-solving, and self-directed learning.