Robert J. McKeown, PhD, CFA, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at York University. He specializes in economics, finance, and quantitative methods, combining academic expertise with the applied perspective of a Chartered Financial Analyst.^® His teaching and leadership are recognized for integrating active learning, technology-enhanced instruction, and real-world application to help students succeed in demanding quantitative courses.

Teaching Philosophy

His teaching philosophy is centered around active learning in the classroom and leveraging technology to deliver an authentic learning experience, even in large classrooms. Technology has the power to enhance student success through frequent feedback, engaging interactive videos, adaptive learning software, and Generative AI. He advocates for creativity in building student engagement and innovative ways to deliver subject matter.

Areas of Focus

Since joining York University, his primary focus has been on teaching first-year undergraduate courses including the principles of economics and mathematics for economics. These courses have also driven his scholarly pursuits, prompting him to research the efficacy of ALEKS, a math learning environment, in preparing students for undergraduate economics.

Contributions

Robert McKeown was also the inaugural Academic Director of SNACK (2021-25), the Student Numeracy Assistance Centre at York University, and collaborates on GAMES: A Gentle Approach to Math, Excel, and Stats. GAMES is a cutting-edge 24-week open-education resource (OER) designed to equip a diverse range of students for studies in economics, business, and the social sciences.