Leading a Mock Trading Floor: Active-based Learning in a Business Context

Abstract

A master teaching approach was used during a session of introductory finance to provide high impact teaching practices for a large class of 190 freshman business students. To teach financial markets, an active-based learning approach was used, and the students participated in a simulated New York Stock Exchange trading floor. Using volunteers as market specialists, students traded fictional shares and submitted a portfolio assignment after the trading session. Active-based learning generated excitement toward meaningful student engagement about financial markets.

Keywords: active based learning, student engagement, high impact teaching, NYSE simulation, role playing