[MUSIC] Many people find Ghandhi's famous, and some say mythical quotation that urges you to, quote, be the change you wish to see in the world, unquote. Really action oriented. And while this statement has become perhaps a cliche, the underlying message of being generous with your abilities to make a difference is still very much worth taking seriously. So, it is in that spirit the capstone project for Finance for Everyone asks you, to take what you have learned across the specializations for courses, and apply it towards helping solve a problem of interest or concern to you. Or to the wider communities that you serve. In this video, we'll first go over the general structure of the capstone project. And then we'll get into some more specific instructions for the first component which you will be submitting at the end of week two of this capstone course. So, what are you going to do over the next eight weeks? The first point is this. The capstone is divided into three stages. Stage 1 covers the first two weeks. This is followed by stage 2 and 3, each covering three weeks, for a total that's going to add up to the eight weeks. During this period, you will engage in several peer review processes and discussion threads that will add a diversity of perspectives. Note, each of the submitted components will build on the previous ones. So that by the end of the eighth week, you will have created an original peer reviewed piece of work that shows your ability to apply knowledge that will make a difference to the final outcome. So what is this final outcome? Well, let's hold onto that amazing result that you're going to create for just a moment. Remember that the purpose of this capstone is for you to identify an issue or problem you're interested in solving and simultaneously improving your own financial literacy. This process is going to build on what you've learned so far. With this rather personal goal in mind, you'll start by identifying what you have learned and the issue of importance to you. Then, as the centerpiece of this capstone, you will develop an action plan that both describes the problem to be tackled in detail. And proposes a practical framework for tackling it that draws on your newly acquired knowledge about the world of finance. You will also present your action plan to a relevant stakeholder or knowledgeable individual. Who is in the position to give you feedback to help you to implement your plan? And finally, you'll implement your plan going forward. So that's the basic outline of the capstone project. Now, more detailed instructions for each component will be provided at the start of each stage. So, let me begin by reviewing the specifics for stage 1. In this point of the course, you lay the groundwork for developing your more detailed action plan in the coming weeks. The first step is to take stock of your learning. That is, engage in a thorough, reflective process where you think back over everything that you've learned so far in Finance for Everyone. And identify the topics and associated real-world issues that really matter most to you. Start by reviewing your notes, the discussion posts, and submit an assessment from the four previous courses that you've taken. While you're doing this, you'll want to keep the following questions in mind, since you're going to be asked to address them in a written reflection, which is the first submitted component of the capstone project. First, think back to the initial learning goals that you identified in course one decisions. How has the work that you've accomplished so far helped you meet those goals? For example, if you initially hoped to learn to financial jargon or the types of roles of financial markets, you could explain the extent to which this was achieved over the previous four courses. Second, think about how your learning goals changed as you progressed through Finance for Everyone. For example, maybe you were initially interested in learning about the present value concept and, perhaps, about evaluation techniques. But as you moved through the course content and the activities, you discover ed that you also wanted to learn more about how value is destroyed through market corrections. Third, explain how your perspectives on finance have changed. For instance, if you first thought finance was all about making as much money as possible, say based on economic considerations, maybe now you see how finance is really about people who allocate money to ideas. That are also influenced by politics, by psychology, and of course, by culture. And finally, what issues, questions, or problems raised in Finance for Everyone have resonated the most with you? For instance, is it the question of, how much debt is too much debt and the related problems cause by over-leveraged households and governments? Or maybe it has to do with how financial markets are driven by the emotional and psychological forces as they are by rational calculation. And how this affects the global economy as a whole. So in short, identifying a few points in the specialization where you are really drawn in, and about what you'd like to learn more is where we're going with this. Now once you've developed clear responses to these questions, you write them up in a narrative essay or story of about 500 words that examines your experience in Finance for Everyone. And while this story will not be peer reviewed, it will serve as the foundation for the rest of the capstone projects. Since the issues or problems that you identify will be the basis for the problem statement, the action plan and the feedback synthesis and implementation plan. Assignments that you will be submitting in the coming weeks. This first reflection component of the capstone project will be submitted as a response to a quiz question. And you can find more detailed instructions in the introductory description of the quote, Reflection on your Finance for Everyone Experience, unquote, quiz in week two. And remember, as a member of this capstone cohort, you can find and give support to one another through the weekly discussion forums. For this week it is, quote, Specialization Connections, unquote, thread, that can be used to help guide each other through the stage 1 process. Once you've completed this reflective exercise, you will have finished stage 1 of the capstone. And you will be well on your way to creating a unique and original project that applies to your newly acquired financial knowledge in productive and in meaningful ways. One of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher is seeing your participants take what they have learned into the wider world and to use it to make a difference. So, you can imagine how I'm really looking forward to seeing the directions you will take as you develop a project that is really meaningful to you.
