Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 2, 1993 TAG: 9304020419
SECTION: FOUNDERS DAY PAGE: FD-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BONOMO HONORED WITH WINE AWARD
Vic Bonomo doesn't leave for class without packing his business cards. Every time a student asks a question, he or she receives a card from BonTomo. At the end of the semester, students can redeem their cards, each of which is worth a point, for additional marks on the final exam.The goal, says Bonomo, associate professor of finance, is to encourage student participation, particularly in larger classes. "I hadn't been able to get people in classes of over 70 to say much. My main aim is to get them to learn more by asking questions and getting more involved in class."
The concept works, says Bonomo, who hands out five to 10 cards per class. Sometimes, he adds, it isn't even necessary for him to prompt further discussion. His students "are already arguing with each other back and forth, and all I'm doing is running around the class, passing out the cards." When that happens, says Bonomo, "I know I've got them excited."
A recipient of one of three Wine Awards for teaching excellence from the Alumni Association, Bonomo has earned a string of other teaching awards in nearly two and a half decades of teaching at Virginia Tech.
Admitting that he "used to be nervous about going into the classroom," Bonomo says he has worked at becoming a better teacher. "I need to give my students the best I have and make them want to hear more."
Students have to be convinced that their studies will be of some value to them in the future, he says, "They often feel that what they're learning is just textbook stuff - they don't see the real-life application."
In the Financial Institutions course that he teaches at the undergraduate, MBA, and Ph.D. levels, Bonomo throws in a plenty of real-life examples - including some from his own life. "I own a shopping center and apartment buildings. I've invested heavily in the stock market at times. I tell my students how I financed my shopping center and why I made the financial decisions that I did. I also tell them about things that didn't work out, mistakes I've made."
These personal stories and examples, he thinks, help make the course material more relevant and memorable to his students. "They realize you've been in the real world and that you know what you're talking about. It means more to them."
"I think he's a really good teacher," says Trey Snow, a senior in finance who took Bonomo's course last semester. He is not just a "very credible" teacher, but also "very willing to help students" Snow says, adding that he and his classmates wish Bonomo taught other classes.
Eric Blazer, a Ph.D. student, says Bonomo's seminars are "lively and thought-provoking." It's a very enjoyable class, with a lot of two-way communication."
Pleased as he is with getting teaching awards or being remembered by students long after they've graduated, Bonomo is particularly touched when he receives complimentary calls or letters from parents. "You realize that you've made an impact when they tell their parents about you."