Ages 14 and up
In "The Payoff", play the role of Alex or Jess, two up-and-coming video bloggers, as they prepare for a life-changing video competition whilst managing their finances and handling unexpected events. In the immersive game, developed by Visa, you'll help Alex and Jess make smart financial decisions within the tight three-day deadline and complete their video for the competition.
The three lesson modules include teacher lesson plans and student activities.
*Modules were created for a US audience.
Students
Banking, Saving, and Payday Loans 
Teachers
What is The Payoff game?
"The Payoff" is an immersive and experiential game which enables teens to learn about financial basics quickly and easily. The game is played in a web app, which simulates a mobile phone where players can chat with characters, check their bank accounts, open fake websites, check their emails and more.
In the classroom, teachers invite students to join the experience. When everyone is ready, the teacher starts the game whilst allowing the students to play. There is an option to log in as a teacher, student, or solo player.
Students’ scores increase when they save money and make good financial decisions, and they decrease when they spend money or make poor decisions. Make it a part of your classroom curriculum with three lesson plans and student activities for teens before they begin playing "The Payoff". Each lesson plan is structured as a comprehensive teaching tool for easy integration into your classroom curriculum.
The Goal
Students have access to a banking app with checking and savings accounts where they can transfer money from one account to another. Most choices impact costs, some of them impact their future savings, and others have consequences later in the game. The main goal is to complete the video challenge whilst maintaining a high score and preparing for a rainy day by saving in case of the unexpected.
Classroom resources include:
Teacher’s Guide
This is a comprehensive guide to integrating "The Payoff" game into the classroom curriculum by registering your class, creating teams, and inviting students to play.
Lessons for Teachers
Lessons are designed for teachers who wish to use "The Payoff" to teach financial concepts to students over multiple days. The lesson plan is structured using the experiential learning method, and it includes a student handout.
Student Handout
The handout is designed for teachers who can only dedicate enough time for students to play the game once. Students are to play "The Payoff", document their decisions, and answer the reflection questions. Encourage students to try to play again on their own when they have the time, applying what they've learned from the initial experience.
Assessments
A 12-question pre-assessment and post-assessment are provided along with master documents for teachers.
Terms and Definitions
The consolidated glossary of terms and definitions will help students to more fully understand the content in the game.
