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In this issue:
Introduction
ABW programs give students the opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning across the curriculum by running their own simulated business. In 2008 we have incorporated a number of changes to enhance our programs and to make them more interesting and challenging for students, with a new retail simulation and single player mode; also the process has been made easier for teachers with online delivery.
ABW Launches Stock Market Challenge
$800 for unlimted one year licence.
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new enterprise education simulation – The Stock Market Challenge. This rewarding, competitive program enables teachers to create the excitement of a “live” stock exchange trading floor in the classroom or school hall. Imagine students, working in teams, buying and selling as if they were on the floor of the stock exchange.
So how does the Challenge work? The trading week is divided into five days Monday to Friday, with each day lasting 20 minutes. This allows the simulation to be run as a one day enterprise program or as a classroom activity over five periods. There are nine companies listed on the market plus the US dollar. All nine companies are from different sectors of the economy, reflecting those that you might find listed on the real Stock Exchange.
The Challenge is not a desk bound activity but captures the frantic activity of “open outcry” plus electronic tracking of trades, students buy and sell at a designated trading area and make their trades verbally. In recreating the excitement of a real trading floor, Stock Market Challenge provides a platform for your students to learn how to work together as a team, solve problems under pressure, analyse information and communicate effectively. They buy and sell shares and foreign currency, based on TV and radio news bulletins, news flashes and news-in-brief updates and daily newspapers.
Students are formed into teams of four and take on the roles of fund managers, being, Finance Manager, Investment Analyst, Media Analyst and Floor Trader. In addition the game requires a group of Trading Floor Managers to work in the trading area and input details of each trade into the computer via the Trading System software.
The Stock Market Challenge simulation is CD based and permits unlimited use for registered students with a site licence of $800 for one year and $1,200 for two years. The software includes both a classroom version for smaller groups and an enterprise version for the whole cohort and the CD includes comprehensive student guides, teachers manual and support material.
Australia second in the Global Enterprise Challenge
The 2008 Global Enterprise Challenge (GEC) 22 – 23 June hosted by ABW required some of the brightest high school students from 14 countries to compete in a 24-hour challenge which required them:
"To produce a working model of an innovative product, process, service or plan that will reduce the impact of growing demand on the world's dwindling water resources."
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard launched the program via video link.
The GEC is an annual event for students aged 16 – 19. While most countries competed online, the Welsh and Japanese teams joined their Australian counterparts in Sydney. Each team competing in the event was able to link in to the live web-stream from Sydney which showed the 24-hour competition and the winner’s announcements.
An international judging panel which included Dr Neal Pellis, a chief scientist with NASA, responsible for the microbiology on the International Space Station and prominent business people judged the students’ work.
The student teams were required to conduct research on the internet, develop a solution, build a prototype, prepare a business plan and make a presentation. Their work was submitted to the panel of judges via the Internet.
In the national part of the GEC Challenge Figtree High School NSW was announced the winner and chosen to represent Australia. Yarra Valley Grammar Vic, came in second with The Australian Science & Maths School SA coming in third.
The international judges awarded First Place to New Zealand, Second Place to Australia and Third Place to Wales, with Germany & Korea taking out the creativity challenge.
More information about the competition can be found at http://gec.abw.org.au
ABW Retail Simulation
Schools all over Australia are now running the Retail Simulation. The simulation has proven to be quite popular with ABW participants.
Based on a Consumer Electronics store, participants are challenged to take over and run the company for a simulated 2 year period or 8 quarters.
The simulation models a proprietor owned business, where performance is assessed by the company’s profitability, market share, turnover, growth and efficiency.
For more information about the Retail Simulation please email abw@abw.org.au or contact us on (02) 9630 3933
National Awards
The ABW National Awards were held 12th May. Representatives from winning schools from across Australia were flown to Sydney by ABW to accept their awards.
The awards recognise the outstanding achievements of students, teachers and schools participating in ABW programs. Prizes were awarded in 6 categories, and included trophies, travel and cash awards.
Best School Program
First Place: Noosa District State High School QLD, - Alison Rexa
Second Place: Blakehurst High School NSW, - Raquel Spratt
Third Place: Palm Beach Currumbin State High School QLD, - Lisa Murphy
Best Video Commercial
First Place: Launceston Church Grammar School TAS, - Bernd Meyer
Second Place: Anglican Church Grammar School QLD, - Mark McNamara
Third Place: Stuartholme School QLD, - Sally Adams
Best Company Report
First Place: St Clair High School NSW, - Ken Platt
Second Place: Stuartholme School QLD, - Sally Adams
Third Place: Blakehurst High School NSW, - Raquel Spratt
Best Trade Display
First Place: St Clair High School NSW, - Ken Platt
Second Place: Blakehurst High School NSW, - Raquel Spratt
Third Place: Mount Scopus Memorial College, - Julie Collins
Best Website
First Place: Launceston Church Grammar School TAS, - Bernd Meyer
Best PowerPoint Presentation
First Place: St Clair High School NSW, - Ken Platt
Inter-School Program Winners
Program 2 Earnshaw State College QLD, - Colleen Hills
Program 3 Toowoomba Grammar School QLD, - Ian Bullock
Program 4 Para West Adult Campus SA, - Laura Brady.
Congratulations to all winners.
If you would like to enter the 2009 awards simply send your entries for Best School Program, Video Commercial, Company Report, Trade Display, Website or PowerPoint to ABW.
ABW Support Site
Running an ABW Program – log on to the ABW Support Site and download all the resource materials needed to run a successful program. On the support site you’ll find audio and video material plus manuals and guides to assist you as the ABW co-coordinator plus material for participating students.
Not running an ABW Program - you can still log on to the ABW Support Site to have a look at our public domain materials but you’ll need to register to run a program before you can gain access to the program specific materials.
To log onto the ABW Support Site go to http://support.abw.org.au/ and sign up for a user account.
Inter-School Program Dates
Inter-School Program 3
Program 3 will offer teams the opportunity to take over a Manufacturing sporting goods company over a period of 8 quarters.
The program will run from 29 July to 2 September 2008.
Inter-School Program 4
Program 4 will offer teams the opportunity to take over and run a Retail Consumer Electronics Store. The program will run from 29 October to 3 December.
Register to run an inter-school program.
Teachers can experience ABW inter-school simulations for Free
Teachers can experience the ABW simulations for free with inter-school simulations scheduled to run in August and November. Register your interest with abw@abw.org.au and develop your skills by playing against other teachers in schools across Australia. Taking part in an inter-school challenge is stimulating and an ideal way to evaluate the suitability of the program for your school.
| Teachers Program 3 - Hospitality |
Teachers Program 4 - IT |
| 7 August to 28 August |
30 October to 20 November |
| This program is offered free to teachers only |
This program is offered free to teachers only |
Create a School – Business Partnership – free guide!!!!
Work with business and the broad community to create enterprising partnerships with mutual benefit for all participants.
Register your interest and we’ll send you a complimentary copy of our guide to establishing a successful School - Business Partnership.
The guide has been developed over three years and is funded by a Commonwealth Grant. Based on a pilot study involving schools and businesses working together in five states you’ll learn what works and what pitfalls to avoid.
To receive your free guide please contact ABW on (02) 9630 3933 or email abw@abw.org.au
Individual Program
ABW has developed an exciting new single player version of the manufacturing, IT and hospitality simulations. To date participants have only been able to take part in scheduled inter-school programs. Now for the first time we will be able to offer participants the opportunity to take part in an ABW simulation spontaneously at virtually any time that suits you. Initially in this beta version we can only offer access to this program to teachers as we do not have the server capacity to cater to the massive multi player capabilities needed for students.
There will be no charge for you to try this program which will be limited to 4 quarters and must be completed within 60 minutes before it is timed out. You will be playing against three cyber opponent teams in a full version of the simulations but reports will be restricted to the summary version. Contact ABW at abw@abw.org.au and request access. We would welcome your feedback and suggestions.
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