Alex Petkevich
Featured Teacher
Alex Petkevich, associate professor in the Reiman School of Finance
Background
Alex is dedicated to fostering student engagement both inside and outside the classroom. By emphasizing peer collaboration, hands-on learning and real-world applications, Alex creates an interactive and dynamic environment where students take ownership of their learning.
Defining Engagement
Alex defines student engagement as a continuous process of maintaining students’ attention, excitement and interest. “It’s about creating a space where students are motivated to learn, both in and outside the classroom,” Alex explains. Engagement, for Alex, is evident when students form informal study groups or “mini clusters” to collaborate and deepen their understanding of the material.
Supporting Student Collaboration
To promote peer learning, Alex uses project-based assignments that encourage group work. “Students learn best from each other,” says Alex. In class, students are prompted to ask questions and challenge one another, which fosters friendly competition and interaction. By creating collaborative assignments and encouraging group problem solving, Alex keeps students actively involved in the learning process.
Strategies for Engagement
Alex encourages students to take handwritten notes, even when digital notes are common. “Writing by hand helps students synthesize the material and make connections,” Alex explains. Students are also allowed to create “cheat sheets” for exams using handwritten notes, which promotes deeper understanding of course concepts and their interconnections.
Challenges Faced
The transition from semester to quarter-based classes presented a challenge, especially in maintaining engagement during shorter class periods. To address this, Alex implemented “mini-modules”—small, case-based exercises that break the content into digestible pieces. Short quizzes and breaks help reinforce learning and maintain focus. “Students’ attention spans are shorter now, so I break content into shorter bursts to keep them engaged,” Alex notes.
Reflective Practice
After each class, Alex conducts informal surveys to gather feedback on what worked and what didn’t. “I take feedback seriously and adapt my teaching approach based on what students need,” Alex says. A great example of this approach is a trading project that evolved from a theoretical exercise to a real-world application using actual market data.
Looking Ahead
Alex sees a growing preference for asynchronous, flexible learning. “Students are increasingly drawn to self-paced, online learning,” Alex notes. To meet this demand, Alex integrates digital tools and AI, aiming to deliver content more efficiently while helping students understand the “why” and “how” behind the material.