Prof Surendra Mansinghka
I use the 3R Principles: Right, Respect and Responsibility. Students have the responsibility to participate and contribute in class as part of the commitment to the learning goals of the course"
Suggestions for Your First Large Class
The 3R (Rights, Responsibilities, Respect) concept would be fundamental for large or small class. Use technology such as WebCT to help deliver class materials as well as for administrative purpose, such as posting announcements. Provide multiple channels of access, e.g. email, web-based discussion, in person, phone, fax for students. TAs should not only be hired for their content knowledge but also their interpersonal and communicative skills. Never underestimate the time and resources involved in assessment for large class, whether for manual or computerized system. A good team with constant communication can help you get in touch with students' needs and concern.Department of Finance
Course:
FINA111 Financial Management (720 students)
Format of Weekly Meetings:
- Two 75-minute lectures
- One 50-minute tutorial session (mandatory)
Preparing Materials
He provides a course outline with details regarding coverage of topics, assignments, schedule, deadlines, expectations, cognitive objectives, grading, and other necessary material. He also provides as much material and information as possible on the web including notes, transparencies, solution to homework problems, spreadsheet for assigned cases, links to additional websites etc., and ensures students know these are available. In addition, he continually updates web material, especially FAQs, and always informs students when new material has been posted.
He provides Hong Kong and regional examples as appropriate to make the material more interesting and relevant.
Arranging TAs' Work
He meets regularly with the TAs, or tutors in this case, each Friday, usually for more than an hour, to assess their experience of the previous week as well as to plan for the following week. The tutors provide him with very valuable feedback on his lectures and on items that needed more elaboration, as well as on other administrative and content matters. They also decide the plan for the following week's tutorials. It is always a very friendly, open, and collaborative meeting. Thus they make sure that what they do in tutorials is influenced by and has incorporated students' concerns and questions.
Managing Class
"Rights and Responsibilities are linked through Respect." Based on his beliefs he conveys to the students from the first class that both they and he have rights and responsibilities. These can only be realized through mutual respect. Therefore he treats his students with respect, dignity and friendliness, and he asks the same of them.
Students' rights (being provided a learning environment, clear objectives and information about assignments, effective and timely feedback, fairness in examination and grading) are his responsibilities. Similarly, his rights (students coming prepared to class, timely submission of assignments, cooperation in providing a learning environment, no plagiarism, participation in group assignments) are their responsibilities. Throughout the semester, he constantly reinforces this linking of rights and responsibilities through respect.
Communication
He provides multiple channels of access: web-based discussion, e-mail, in person, after class, phone, fax etc. and encourages students to use any they can. He tries to answer students' questions in 24 hours or less. He considers this a critical part of his set of 'responsibilities' and estimate that he spends a good part of his time each week responding to students' questions.
Assessment
Both mid-term and final examinations consist of multiple choice (to test concepts, ideas and definitions, etc.- 40% of examination) as well as numerical problems (to test analytical techniques- 60% of examination). Each numerical problem is marked twice by two different persons to ensure consistency and fairness as well as to minimize complaints after the exams results are returned.Prof
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