AEE 325: Planning and Delivering Nonformal Education

The Agricultural and Human Sciences department features a semester blog called The Student Narrative. This blog will display assignments from courses offered within the department that are completed by students. For the Fall 2024 post, we have an assignment from the AEE 325: Planning and Delivering Nonformal Education, which is instructed by Joseph Donaldson.

NC State undergraduates enrolled in AEE 325 (Planning and Delivering Nonformal Education) recently participated in a financial management simulation organized by Carolyn Bird and Joseph Donaldson. The simulation, titled On My Own, is designed to provide students with a hands-on learning experience focused on personal finance management. It took place on September 18 at the Talley Student Union. Each student was assigned a specific job, monthly income, and a unique family situation. Their challenge was to manage their financial resources by making critical decisions regarding housing, transportation, child care, food, clothing, and other monthly expenses. This activity highlighted the importance and effectiveness of educational simulations while helping to enhance the students’ financial literacy and decision-making skills.

We were fortunate to receive support from a diverse group of volunteers, including faculty members, staff, and graduate assistants. These volunteers played key roles in the simulation, acting as bankers, car salespeople, child care providers, grocers, and more. Their involvement added a layer of realism to the exercise, allowing students to gain a well-rounded understanding of financial planning in a controlled yet dynamic environment.

It was a successful and impactful experience, offering students a chance to reinforce key financial management principles while developing valuable life skills that will benefit them well beyond their academic journey. We appreciate the participation of everyone involved..