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.
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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:
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The tests cover the five theme/topic areas, and has 58 questions in each section/theme (multiple-choice
and short-answers type questions).
• On-line questionnaire:
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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.
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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 5th 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.