Open for Business: Learning Economics through Social Interaction in a Student-Operated Store

Abstract

This study examines teaching and learning economics and entrepreneurship through a student-run Montessori middle school store. By designing and managing a school store, students created a ‘community of practice’ to learn economics concepts in their daily environment. Questions guiding this study were: (a) How do students’ social-interactions in a Montessori middle school student-operated business demonstrate economics content knowledge? (b) How do students' social-interactions in a Montessori middle school student-operated business demonstrate economics skills? (c) How do students' business roles in the store develop their understanding of economics principles? Findings indicate that: (1) student activities in the school store promoted learning through social interaction; (2) the type and number of business roles a student assumed created opportunities for economic learning; (3) student entrepreneurs expressed specific knowledge of economics concepts, and, (4) students’ decision-making and ownership affected behavior. Additionally, features of Kohlberg’s (1985) concept of Just Community supported the learning environment. This study can provide social studies teachers and teachereducators with a model for learning economics (or social studies) concepts through a curricular-based student-run enterprise.

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