Proverbs, games and role playing are just a few examples of the many teaching tools two Goodman professors employ to engage their students.

“The biggest challenge as a teacher is to make the material interesting and relevant,” says Ernest Biktimirov, Professor of Finance with Brock University’s Goodman School of Business.

The former Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs was recently named Graduate Professor of the Year alongside Mark Julien, Professor of Human Resources, who received the Undergraduate Professor of the Year award.

Among the many teaching tools Biktimirov uses to engage his students, he references cultural proverbs to illustrate financial concepts. For example, he discourages students from putting all their eggs in one basket when teaching about diversification, advises them not to cry over spilt milk when discussing sunk costs and warns that nothing ventured is nothing gained when talking about risk return tradeoff.

“Using proverbs simplifies abstract financial concepts and helps students realize that much of finance is common sense,” he says.

When Biktimirov teaches students whose first language is not English, he adapts the proverbs to the culture of his students. He has used Spanish, French and Russian proverbs when teaching to diverse groups of students overseas, as well as Chinese proverbs to teach students in Goodman’s international stream of the Master of Accountancy program.

“The educational benefit of using proverbs was even more profound for these students,” he says. “Their comprehension and retention improved. Students appreciate when an instructor shows interest in their culture.”

Biktimirov also uses props, such as foreign currencies, to teach about exchange rates, and stocks and bonds when talking about capital structure. Stock-trade simulators and Bloomberg Terminal software help students apply academic teachings to real-life scenarios through the buying and selling of financial securities at actual market prices. Mind-mapping and graphic syllabi visually show how different topics relate to each other, and online learning objects help him teach interactively through animation and games.

Like Biktimirov, Julien uses a variety of methods to ignite interest and sustain engagement.

Case studies, expert talks, role playing and activities are common additions to his classroom learning environment. In his Organizational Behaviour course, Julien uses the Perfect Square team building exercise, which involves 12 blindfolded students working together to form the shape of a square with a long rope.

“This activity is great because it integrates so many concepts from the course, including communication, teamwork, leadership and conflict resolution,” says Julien.

At the beginning of every class, Julien also asks students to get into small groups to discuss what they felt were the most important lessons they learned from the previous class.

“It allows them time to reflect, keeps them engaged and helps me evaluate whether or not they are retaining key takeaways,” he says. “I often try to convey the context of why these topics are so important and how they will benefit students in their personal and professional lives.”

Both Biktimirov and Julien have been employed at the University for close to two decades, and each pursued a career as a professor to fulfil their passion for sharing knowledge with younger generations.

“I really love the intellectual exercise of trying to take a topic and really have it resonate with the students,” says Julien. “Receiving the Undergraduate Professor of the Year award is a nice affirmation that even though I’m getting older, I can still connect with the students. It’s very important that what I have to offer still has meaning to them.”

The annual Professor of the Year award is voted on by students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Biktimirov and Julien were among 80 Goodman School of Business faculty members nominated for the award by more than 300 student submissions.

“I’m humbled students chose me for this award,” says Biktimirov. “It’s different than receiving an award from colleagues or the government. Students are the reason we teach, so their recognition makes this award very special.”