HOW TO TEACH FINANCE: A ROLE PLAYING APPROACH

Is commonly known that nowadays is more difficult to teach any subject than some years ago. Principally, it is due to a harder student engagement since almost all students have internet, a Smartphone, and a laptop among others. Moreover, they dominate excellently the technology. Therefore, university professors have to find the way to increase the student enthusiasm. Role Playing is a powerful tool to put students closer to the reality they will find in the business area. Lecturers have created a framework where students become managers of their own Investment Funds by forming four components groups. On the one hand, we show real market information to students by twitter, moodle or special software. Second, they must make responsible decisions in a complex simulation and use professional financial instruments. And third, they have to carry out a formal presentation in the Barcelona Stock Exchange. Hence, each team manages the wealth of an Investment Fund and try to achieve the greatest profitability competing among them. The response and satisfaction of students has been extraordinary and their participation in this subject has increased considerably. Moreover, their knowledge is better using the role playing approach and it is closer they asked for in the future. Finally, even some financial professionals participate to help current students in their fight against the markets, and also to evaluate their performance.