Classroom Stock Game Keeps Students Engaged into the Summer

In the back of a college classroom, you might expect to see students playing Solitaire or Angry Birds on laptops. But in many finance classes, it's a fantasy stock market game. And the professor not only knows it's happening, he put them up to it.

At schools like Harvard, Princeton, BYU, and Stanford, business students recently finished classes where they learned about the stock market by actually participating in it. Smartstocks.com starts each player with $1 million in virtual money they can invest in actual stocks. Players can see their virtual worth rise and fall with the real life stock market. Now it's summer and students are still playing.

"The anticipation of the market and social aspects keep young people interested in the game and let them build off each other's enthusiasm," said Mike Woolf, vice president at Smartstocks.com. "Many students who started the game for a class this winter are still active even though class is over."

“"You never know what's going to happen with the stock market and that's what keeps people interested in the game. The excitement is addicting."”

Shailesh Kumar, CEO of Value Stock Guide said there are benefits for both students and teachers in using stock market games.

"The main benefit of the stock market game is that students who take part in it earn higher scores on personal finance exams than those who do not play it," Kumar said. "More than one learning style is encouraged as both students and teachers become acquainted with the rules of the language of saving and investing money."

Professors using Smartstocks.com can create groups only students can join. This allows the professor to monitor how well students are implementing investing strategies and allows the students to interact with each other online.

For students who enjoy the competitiveness of the stock game, they can compare their performance not only with their group but with all players. Every month, Smartstocks.com awards prized to the best performing portfolios.

"In any given month, anyone can top the charts on the leader board," Woolf said. "You never know what's going to happen with the stock market and that's what keeps people interested in the game. The excitement is addicting."

To open a free account and create a group any time of the year, go to Smartstocks.com.