FIN534 Homework Assignments Changed This Term –

The structure of homework assignments for the FIN534 class is changed this term.  In recent terms students were asked to do homework assignments on a weekly basis.  Few of the homework questions involved the need to prepare quantitative solutions.  Starting this term, students are asked to complete 5 “homework sets” during the term.   Most of the homework sets have 9 questions and many of the questions involve quantitative solutions.  The homework sets are due at the end of Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

Nature of Assigned Problems and Role of Instructor –

This old professor has reviewed the homework sets for the class and arrived at a couple of conclusions.  First, it appears that a number of the assigned problems are difficult, particularly for students without a lot of finance background and in an online course.  Second, this old professor believes that it is his job to show students how to solve problems.  Therefore, I have prepared what are called homework templates for the homework sets.  These Excel templates (Excel spreadsheet models) should greatly improve students’ ability to complete the assigned problems correctly.  The templates should also provide students with some confidence and comfort that they will be able to “do” the problems and learn from that experience.

Templates Are for This Class Only – 

Please keep in mind, when you see the templates, that they are prepared for the members of this class exclusively; the templates certainly are not available to other classes. I do not know how, or if, other instructors will help students with the homework assignments.  Other instructors may have different and better ways to help.  However, I would ask that you respect that the homework templates that were prepared for this class should be kept within the class; it should not be assumed that other instructors would want students to have this kind of instructional tool.

Homework Must Be in Working Excel Format – 

This class requires that all homework set problems be submitted in working Excel format.  That means that the solutions have to be constructed in Excel where the spreadsheet makes the actual calculations.  No credit is earned for any homework submissions that do not involve working Excel solutions.  You are permitted, and encouraged, to use the homework templates for the homework assignments.  

How to Use Homework Templates –

So, how are the templates used?   To begin, the following instructions appear on each of the 5 homework templates:

     Using the Homework Templates –

     1. YOU MUST ENTER CORRECT INFORMATION IN THE YELLOW-CODED CELLS.

     2. DO NOT TOUCH THE NON-YELLOW CODED CELLS.

     3. ANSWERS ARE IN THE RED-BORDERED CELLS.

4. ALWAYS WORK FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM (SOME ANSWERS DEPEND ON PREVIOUS PROBLEMS).

To use the homework templates, it is your job to enter correct data in the yellow-coded cells of the problem solutions.  When you receive the homework templates, the information in the yellow-coded cells may be right, or it may be wrong.  It is your job to make sure that each of the yellow-coded cells has the correct data.  If you enter the correct data in the yellow-coded cells, the Excel spreadsheets will calculate the correct answers.

The instructions for the homework templates remind users that no changes should be made in the construction and operation of the Excel spreadsheets.  That also means that no information should be copied and pasted, rows and columns should not be added or deleted, and no other changes should be made to the Excel spreadsheets.

Where Are the Templates –

The homework templates will be placed in the “Instructor Insights” section of the online classroom.  The template for Week 2 will be found in the Instructor Insights section of the Week 1 online classroom; the template for Week 4 will be found in the Instructor Insights section of the Week 3, online classroom, and so on.

Ask If There Are Additional Questions –

The purpose of this note is to let you know that help is available for the homework assignments in this class through the use of the homework templates.  It is also intended that this information will help students to use the templates in preparing the answers for the homework sets.  If you have questions that are not answered in this communication, please ask them in the online classroom.