Neat Ideas in Teaching

Neat Ideas in Teaching

I think this is quite genius:

The topic of Corporate Finance/Capital Markets is, even within the world of the Dismal Science, a exceptionally dry and boring subject matter, encumbered by complex mathematic models and economic theory.

What made Dr. K memorable was a gimmick he employed that began with his introduction at the beginning of his first class:

“Now I know some of you have already heard of me, but for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar, let me explain how I teach. Between today until the class right before finals, it is my intention to work into each of my lectures … one lie. Your job, as students, among other things, is to try and catch me in the Lie of the Day.”

And thus began our ten-week course.

This was an insidiously brilliant technique to focus our attention – by offering an open invitation for students to challenge his statements, he transmitted lessons that lasted far beyond the immediate subject matter and taught us to constantly checksum new statements and claims with what we already accept as fact.

I love these tricks that show students that they already know how to be critical thinkers. Awesome!

0 thoughts on “Neat Ideas in Teaching

  1. Heh, that’s actually pretty cool. Next time I’m running a seminar or teaching something, I think I’m going to have to take his idea.

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