Real Life Financial Mathematics (RLFM)

Real Life Financial Mathematics (RLFM) is a one-year, one credit, advanced math blended online course introduced in September 2017. Although a math course, with an Algebra I pre-requisite, it receives Career & Technology Education (CTE) additional funding of 35%. It is the only course approved by the Texas Educational Agency. RLFM provides a deep, objective, education in personal finances, career discovery, and funding of post-secondary education utilizing a classroom flipped thinking instructional methodology.

Students gain knowledge that will impact their lives. They learn to think and answer real-life questions, such as —How to:

• Identify a career that you love and provides excellent compensation and benefits
• Use math to solve real-life problems
• Fund and reduce the cost of postsecondary education
• Analyze and reduce the cost of transportation and housing
• Develop a ten-year life plan to set a course for becoming financially secure and independent

RLFM also offers instructors an opportunity to implement a Bloom’s pedagogy of critical thinking where teachers —

• ask questions, and challenge students to discover the answers,
• teach students how to evaluate several options and not select the easiest answer,
• teach students how to think, as opposed to what to think,
• teach students how to creatively work in teams and manage underperforming team members,
• challenge students to make audience-engaging presentations, and
• expect students to share their ideas, ask questions of each other and learn how to communicate with adults and future employers.