Financial literacy of schoolchildren in an offline and online environment

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of maintaining financial literacy of schoolchildren. The author focuses on the appearance in recent years of new financial products and services, the use of which is becoming necessary processes of life in modern society. Based on a review of the literature on the topic, the article reveals the approaches developed in science to the concept of «financial literacy», its components and evaluation methods. Adhering to an integrated approach, the author considers financial literacy as a cumulative characteristic, including the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for making competent financial decisions, ensuring the financial well-being of an individual. In connection with the technologization of the financial sphere, the transfer of many financial transactions to the online environment, the article suggests that students undergoing financial literacy training online are diagnosed with higher levels of financial literacy formation than those who are engaged in full-time. To test the hypothesis, a pedagogical experiment was conducted in 2020-2021, in which 76 students of grades 9-10 of the cities of Vologda and Staraya Russa took part. In the course of it, significant changes were revealed in the levels of formation of financial literacy among the subjects. The highest results and significant changes were diagnosed in the group where the formative impact on the development of financial literacy was provided online, and the lowest - in the group of schoolchildren studying full - time and not subject to targeted formative influence. In the mixed learning group, average values in the levels of financial literacy were revealed. Also, against the background of sufficiently high indicators of the formation of financial literacy among the subjects of all groups at the initial and final measurements, the author concluded that it was necessary to further maintain financial literacy among students, rather than increase it, due to the influence of various factors on this process.