Mini-workshop module for corporate finance: thinking like AI

The Mini-Workshop Module for Corporate Finance: ‘Thinking Like AI’ is an innovative pedagogical design developed to enhance students' analytical and problem-solving skills. As students increasingly over-rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in providing corporate finance solutions, this module introduces a Cognitive Simulation Approach. This manual, ‘low-tech’ innovation utilizes a specialized ThreeColumn Worksheet (Student Solution and Logic, AI Reference, and Recheck Column) to train students to deconstruct complex financial problems such as Cost of Capital and Capital Structure, with the systematic precision of AI logic. Employing a pre-post intervention design involving 31 undergraduate students, results indicated a transformative shift in learning outcomes. Quantitative findings showed a drastic surge in mean scores across all constructs, with conceptual application (Q5) rising from 1.35 to 4.35. Furthermore, the reduction in standard deviation (SD) confirms the module's inclusivity in closing the gap between high and low-performing students. Qualitative feedback highlights increased self-efficacy and metacognitive awareness. By positioning AI as a comparative benchmark rather than a primary source, this module fosters Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) and reduces technology dependency. It offers a scalable, cost-effective framework for higher education, preparing graduates for the critical demands of the 21st-century financial industry.