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See the web sites for hundreds of Finance Classes.  Including some of the classes I have taught.

1. Teaching Philosophy
2. General Teaching Guidelines
3. Do these things really work?

Teaching Philosophy

My philosophy of teaching finance is best summed up in the following:

1. It has to be understandable.
2. The subject should be taught in the context of the bigger picture.  It has to be tied back to the business side of the firm.  I often speak of this as "holistic finance."
3. Students are people too.  As REMMS or REMPS they have an incentive to learn but often have high discount rates that make other things (like an extra hour of sleep) seem more important.
4. Everyone can learn finance but at different speeds.
5. People pick up things in different ways.  While some can see everything with an equation, others need to see it in multiple ways.
6. Some of the least important comments you make will be some of the most remembered comments of the class.
7. Finance is the most important and most encompassing class.  Finance can be used to explain much of the world.
8. Finance can be fun!

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General ideas about teaching Finance

1. The key is getting the students to understand the material, not memorize it.
2. Students can do much more than they think they can.  Raise the bar and students will go higher.
3. Spreadsheets do not work well in showing concepts in classes of over 10.
4. Multimedia works!  Use blackboards, Computer projecors, TVs, audio tapes, whatever can help you get your point across.
5. Use Real World Examples--Anything, even Finance, can be boring and dry without seeing's any application for it.  Most students do not have the financial background to see why the material is relevant.   One way the application of the material can be seen is with the use of examples.  These examples can be made up or can be from real world companies. --(which is why I started the newsletter.)

These real world examples are the reason why I require students to get the Wall Street Journal as well as why I publish a weekly newsletter of current Finance related news stories. (feel free to join other teachers around the world that require it for class.  It is useful for any class from Intro to Finance  to advanced.)

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Additional comments on teaching Finance

To use the same classroom strategy for all classes is a recipe for unfulfilled students.  Obviously how you teach is a function of the class.  Some techniques are general enough to be used for any class.  Others depend on the course as well as the students.

For example, lower level classes need more structure and thus will probably rely more on a traditional text book, whereas upper levels may do very well without a text and relying on web-notes instead.

At certain schools, students have learned to expect that Finance is a demanding course.  This is then advantageous to the teacher.  If such a culture is not in place at your school, it may well behoove you to work with others in the department to set higher standards. 

 
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