Instructor Insights pages are part of the OCW Educator initiative, which seeks to enhance the value of OCW for educators.
Instructor Insights
Below, Gary Gensler describes various aspects of how he teaches 15.S08 FinTech: Shaping the Financial World.
We teach a lot more than knowledge, we teach a way of thinking and a way of analysis.
— Prof. Gary Gensler
Curriculum Information
Prerequisites
Permission of the instructor is required.
Requirements Satisfied
15.S08 can be applied toward a Master’s in Finance or Master’s in Business Administration, but is not required.
Offered
Different versions of 15.S08 Special Seminar in Management are offered several times a year, in the second half of the spring, summer, or fall term or in the January Independent Activities Period.
Assessment
Grade Breakdown
The students' grades were based on the following activities:
![The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by group research paper.](/images/educator/edu_b-lab-key.png)
![The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by individual write-up.](/images/educator/edu_b-lecture-key.png)
![The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by class participation.](/images/educator/edu_b-present-key.png)
Student Information
![80 students took this course when it was offered in Spring 2020.](/courses/sloan-school-of-management/15-s08-fintech-shaping-the-financial-world-spring-2020/instructor-insights-1/80.png)
Enrollment
80 registered students, plus 38 registered listeners
Breakdown by Year
Graduate students
Breakdown by Major
A mix of graduate students in Master’s of Finance and MBA programs
Typical Student Background
The finance students in the class tended to be fairly young and computer-savvy; the MBA students were a mix of traditional students, mid-career students, and Sloan Fellows.
During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:
In Class
Met online 2 times per week for 1.5 hours per session; 12 sessions total; mandatory attendance
Out of Class
Outside of class, students completed assigned readings and the individual write-up assignment, and worked in groups on the group research paper.
Semester Breakdown
WEEK | M | T | W | Th | F |
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![Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT.](/images/educator/edu_b-noclass-key.png)
![Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when class meetings are held.](/images/educator/edu_b-lecture-key.png)
![Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled.](/images/educator/edu_b-blank-key.png)
![Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate due dates.](/images/educator/edu_b-duedate-key.png)