Introducing Interactive Learning

I must admit that it’s been many years since I sat for my Series 7 exam here in the US and longer than I dare admit to sitting my SFA in London. Both sets of exams required multiple chapters of learning and meticulous memorization of topics that I often felt I would never use again. One common link between both UK and US financial exams was the reference to how options worked. Since I was already in the trading business, it was easier for me than other candidates. But I still had to learn by heart what seemed complicated options combinations and strategies, and know how to calculate a breakeven, maximum potential gain or potential loss. I remember having a CD-ROM with practice quizzes on, which was helpful. But a student could learn the answers to the finite question bank. If only there was a venue to take an unlimited number of questions until you could really understand the concept.

Fast forward a quarter of a century and finally, my team has built one!

Recently, the IBKR Campus launched its Interactive Learning initiative diving straight into the deep end tackling the specialist subject of options. And as the name suggests the curriculum is interactive allowing the user to move toggles and buttons on screen to help answer a question and to reinforce teaching concepts.

The Introduction to Options lesson starts with basic terms and definitions ensuring that the student understands what the core content is all about. The student drags words across the screen to fill in the blanks as they learn about the core of options trading. The very familiar performance profile diagram is used to explain must know concepts such as the strike price, break-even point and how they relate to changing prices of the underlying. There’s even a progress bar across the top of the screen so that the student can visualize where they are in the current course.

There is a full explanation of major Greek concepts, what they are and how they work, and the student may test their understanding by calculating new values should time or price change. The learning tool also explains vertical spreads as well as straddle and strangle combinations. And when the user wants to test their skills on specific options strategies, they can select from the Options Multi-Leg Challenge area. 

It’s a phenomenal tool for anyone studying for a financial exam at either professional or educational level as well as anyone interested in graduating from stock to option trading.

Keep an eye out for new Interactive Learning lessons as we expand our courses with deeper dives into options and a broader range of commodities.