Active financial analysis: stimulating engagement using Bloomberg for introductory finance students

There is increasing interest in the adoption of real-world interactive and participative learning techniques within economics and finance teaching through the use of trading room software. Previous research suggests that the integration of trading room software can improve knowledge development and performance. However, the time constraints of providing software training and requirements for foundation knowledge of basic maths and economics has restricted the adoption of trading room software to advanced courses. This paper outlines how the Bloomberg Professional Software was used in an introductory finance course and analyses student engagement, learning and attainment using feedback and performance data. We find that students valued the novelty of Bloomberg as part of a mix of different learning activities which facilitated the practical application of theory. Results also indicate that the alignment of teaching, learning and assessment promotes deeper engagement, and is associated with higher attainment. We demonstrate that trading room software can be effectively used in introductory courses to enhance the student experience and deepen understanding