MY-INVESTMENT: USING DIGITAL GAMES TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Although financial management is a significant issue for children, few studies offer empirical findings concerning the influences of game-based environments on children’s learning. Thus, this study investigates how digital games can serve as a favorable environment to help children learn about financial management. We first develop a digital game, and then conduct a case study with 29 fifth-grade students designed to investigate the children’s behaviors. The results reveal that (1) there were individual differences in their management behaviors, although their behaviors in terms of understanding and coping with overall financial investment tended to increase over time; (2) 41% of the students did not show appropriate financial management behaviors but 59% did, and most of them held a rather conservative strategy in financial management. Based on these findings, some directions for future development of game-based environments are suggested.