Time Required
	The amount of time for each aspect of the learning experience:

The original idea for this experience came as I was thinking about ways to rework an older idea of mine that I submitted as a TRANSIT lesson (using spreadsheets to teach compound interest with a constructivist approach). In considering a new approach, I thought of incorporating credit card bills, retirement plans, mortgages, car loans, and wise investment strategies to illustrate the effect of compound interest and give it meaning for my 8^th grade students. After fully visualizing the experience, planning it seemed to take little time. Planning primarily involved creating my own spreadsheet and graphs (to have specific examples ready) and making arrangements to have the computer lab reserved for my classes.

The length of our periods is 42 minutes. The guideline of 3 days for implementation refers primarily to three class periods. In one of my classes, I needed to increase the number to 5 days to provide more experience with the software and guidance, as well as more time to complete the project. In another class, I was able to keep to the three days and allow students to complete the projects independently. The three-day plan is only a suggestion that may be modified as needed (depending on student abilities in mathematics and expertise with computer applications).

I allowed students to complete the project independently outside of class. Giving students a deadline of one week past the last day of the in class experience should be sufficient. (Most students responded well to that time frame).

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