Collaborative Learning through Real-Life Assignments in Accounting Classes

Abstract

"Adding a unit to an existing Reporting for Accountants course increases student opportunity for oral communication and presentation practice. We have also been able to integrate technical material from real-world exercises into this class, now team-taught by faculty from the Departments of Information and Decision Systems (IDS) and Accounting. Through team teaching and collaborative classroom assignments, we incorporate the move by the Big Six accounting firms to specialize in industry groups (our company/industry reports) and have students produce payroll workpapers, an area not covered in detail in the auditing/systems course. We have also added more material on teamwork and on critical thinking. This presentation will discuss how the new course integrates technology, collaborative learning, teamwork, and team teaching into a formerly more traditional course. Students are experiencing how to communicate in a professional way by using techniques proven to be useful in actual accounting practice. "