Understanding the Commodity Trading Concepts and Strategies through Asynchronous Learning Network RAMI REDDY

Asynchronous Learning is a student-centered method that uses online resources to facilitate information sharing outside the constraints of time and place among a network of people.

Research Question: How well students learn the commodity trading concepts and strategies through asynchronous learning network?

Problem Context: Students with an emphasis of Commodity & Price Analysis in Agribusiness major take several commodity marketing courses. An advanced level course, AGIN-4620, Commodity Price Forecasting (2 cr.) is primarily geared towards learning technical analysis, behavioral and psychological aspects of trading. Students that enter AGIN-4620 had taken the prior courses i.e. Ag Marketing and Commodity Marketing that covered commodity trading basics, mechanics and strategies using both the fundamental analysis and to some degree technical analysis.

Lot of materials/topics needs to be covered as the technical analysis of commodity markets is constantly evolving with new technical tools and indicators appearing on a regular basis. Most recent areas of research on commodity markets are focused on behavioral and psychological aspects to trading. Advanced students that learnt commodity trading concepts in earlier classes need to learn many of these additional topics outside the classroom due to time constraints of this course. Regular reading and being in touch with the latest developments in the technical and research analysis of markets will develop the student to become a good trader, broker, market analyst and/or investor.

Project Goals  To increase the student understanding of commodity trading concepts & issues.  To determine the student understanding of commodity trading strategies.  To increase student knowledge of technical analysis and research methods in commodity markets.  To asses the student understanding of various technical indicators construction and use.  To gain understanding of the market behavior and trader psychology.

Discussion Board Themes/topics covered: 1) Commodity Trading Concepts & Issues. 2) Trading Strategies. 3) Technical Analysis and Tools. 4) Technical Indicators. 5) Market Behavior and Trader Psychology. Resources section will be open for participants to post any resources that they find useful.

SoTL Research Process: Steps 1.Begin the project during Spring-2012 semester: SoTL project details and guidelines will be given to the students. Student participation is mandatory. 2.Pre-test will be administered. 3.Discussion topics in 5 theme areas will be posted. Board will be open for student postings, reviews, and comments. 4.Intermediate feedback will be provided. 5.On-going student postings, reviews and comments will be made. 6.Post-test will be administered. 7.On-line questionnaire will be administered. 8.Final feed-back will be given to the students. 9.Data analysis will be done. 10.Report preparation and submission.

Method(s)/Assessment Process: Pre and Post tests: The tests cover the five theme/topic areas, and has 5- 8 questions in each section/theme (multiple-choice and short-answers type questions). On-line questionnaire: Student feedback will be taken at the end of the project to determine the effectiveness of discussion board activities. The questionnaire will cover the five themes/topics, and self-assessment of learner in critical thinking, engagement, and learning in this project.

Preliminary Results: Student participation is very high. Active monitoring of their progress and intermediate feedback was useful. There is great interest among students as evidenced by quality of posts and wide range of subject matter covered. Current Progress: Pre-test was given. Project is progressing well and is at the 5 th step as outlined in the SoTL research process steps. Results will be coming soon. Acknowledgements: I thank School of Agriculture & Provost at UW_P, UW-System and OPID, and Scholars, Fellows and Administrators of 2012 program.