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John Shepherd

John Allan Shepherd

Formal Name: John Allan Shepherd

Personal Title: Mr

Position: Associate Professor

Organisational Unit: Department of Actuarial Studies

Qualification: BA Macq., GradDipEd Sydney CAE., MHigherEd NSW, AIAA

Telephone: (+61-2) 9850-8573

Fax: (+61 2) 9850 9481

Email: jshepher@efs.mq.edu.au

Location: E4A 609

Profile

John Shepherd has been a member of the Department since 1987. He has taught at all levels from first to fourth year, and to accounting, finance and economics students as well as actuarial students. Since 1996 he has taught part of the innovative Actuarial Control Cycle subject, both on campus and in the city. His research interests include actuarial education, the nature of actuarial work, and students' learning approaches and styles. In 1995 he was awarded (jointly with Clare Bellis) the Institute of Actuaries of Australia's Presidents Prize for a paper on Australian actuarial education. This seminal paper sparked a debate leading to fundamental changes, and today, Australian actuarial education is regarded as world's best practice. In 1996, John received one of Macquarie University's inaugural Outstanding Teacher Awards. His citation described him as 'the epitome of an outstanding teacher'.

Research Interests

  • Student learning (especially approaches to learning, preferred learning styles and their relationship)
  • Teaching: implementing constructive alignment
  • Educating actuaries: curriculum design

Committee / Board Membership

  • President, Macquarie University Sport & Recreation Inc
  • THE FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS Teaching & Learning Committee
  • Macquarie University PAL Advisory Committee

Teaching

Publications

  • Shepherd, JA (2006), ‘Mistakes?  We’ve seen a few’,  Actuarial Research Clearing House (ARCH) 2006.1, Chicago: Society of Actuaries
  • Shepherd, John (2005), ‘Hurdling or Learning?’, Actuary Australia Issue 102 (August, 2005), Sydney: The Institute of Actuaries of Australia
  • Shepherd, John (2005), ‘Becoming an Australian Actuary’, De Actuaris, Netherlands: Actuarieel Genootschap
  • Shepherd, JA (2005), ‘Hurdling or Learning?  An evaluation of the qualification process for actuaries in Australia’, 2005 Biennial Convention of The Institute of Actuaries of Australia (Cairns)
  • Shepherd, John (2004), ‘Financial Techniques, Instruments and Markets’, Sydney: Perdisco (www.perdisco.com.au)
  • (This electronic workbook is now in its fourth edition, and comprises over 100 financial mathematics problems, each with randomised numeric values, and matched instant feedback including full, step-by-step solutions)
  • Bellis, Clare, Shepherd, John and Lyon, Richard (editors) (2003), ‘Understanding Actuarial Management: the actuarial control cycle’, Sydney: The Institute of Actuaries of Australia (462 pages, with CD-ROM of supporting material)

Conference Presentations

  • Shepherd, J. (2008) Tackling the tyranny of high student/staff ratios  Learning Excellence and Development (LEAD) Symposium at Macquarie University
  • Shepherd, J. (2008) Theory into practice: Implementing constructive alignment Foundations in Learning and Teaching Symposium of the Think: Education Group at North Sydney
  • Shepherd, J. (2008) Weaving a web of consistency FieLT Course conducted by Macquarie University
  • Shepherd, J. (2007) Learning for what? 42nd Actuarial Research Conference at Robert Morris University, Pennsylvania, USA Invited keynote address
  • Shepherd, J. (2007) Presentation Knowledge or skills … or both?  42nd Actuarial Research Conference at Robert Morris University, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Shepherd, J. (2007) What actuaries need to do: Developing the capabilities of future actuaries Biennial Convention of Institute of Actuaries of Australia in Christchurch, NZ.
  • Shepherd, J A (2005),  ‘Mistakes?  We’ve seen a few’, 2005 Actuarial Research Conference (ARC) of the Society of Actuaries (Mexico City)
  • Shepherd, JA (2005), ‘Hurdling or Learning?  An evaluation of the qualification process for actuaries in Australia’, 2005 Convention of The Institute of Actuaries of Australia (Cairns)
  • Shepherd, JA (2004), ‘Actuaries’ Preferred Learning Styles’, 2004 New Zealand Society of Actuaries Conference (Napier)
  • Shepherd, JA (2003), ‘Actuaries: A Narrow Profession?’, 2003 Biennial Convention of The Institute of Actuaries of Australia (Coolum)