Deborah+Stephenson+-+CR

Course information
Course code, name, and sections: ACC 2316-01,02,04-05, Principles of Accounting Course instructor: Deborah Stephenson Semester and year: Fall 2010

Context
Provide information that helps understanding the innovation you are documenting. Principles of Accounting is a 3-credit hour initial core curriculum accounting class required for all business, sports management, education, music business, and health care management students. Enrollment is usually at capacity, 30-35, for approximately 6-8 sections each semester. I usually teach 4 sections each semester. There is no prerequisite and usually students have no prior exposure to the material; many do without a textbook. The class covers 12 chapters in 16 weeks. Each chapter builds upon previous lessons. Workbooks are not required. The class is assessed each semester by the instructor or an independent faculty member according the SACS, Primary Trait Analysis Goals and Objectives (PTA), stressing business communication, diagnosing and analyzing problems. The 2316 course redesign initially was written on a chapter-by-chapter basis; then subsequently modified before going back to the initial approach. The materials developed for the redesign included vocabulary, classroom activities, and supplemental Blackboard tools; all require using a textbook. The major challenge is trying keep students positively and actively involved; learning new concepts daily at the same pace while processing a large volume of student work to evaluate progress. A combination of lecture and daily classroom activities using paper handouts and electronic resources to introduce, explain, analyze, solve and review assigned problems. All course materials except the textbook, tests and some quizzes are posted on Blackboard (Bb), including the syllabus and homework assignments by chapter for each week for the semester. Usually each chapter is covered in 150 minutes or 2- to 3 class periods a week. Chapters are introduced with one or two problems worked as class exercises; students are required to read the chapter; I encourage them to read before I introduce it; most wait until after I have introduced the chapter. Blackboard chapter self-assessment tools with feedback are provided. A sign-up schedule for individual help is posted on my office door. Tutoring services are available in Hauser building.
 * __Describe your course and major challenges in its teaching__
 * __Describe your teaching style__

The students are mostly sophomores, usually very dependent on handheld calculators; a few may not be experienced with Bb tools or grade book and some do not check e-mails. The majority of students have cell phones and like to use them in class. Most are not experienced with software packages such as Microsoft excel or word or E-books. And several students never purchase a textbook and may not use textbook copies on reserve in the library. To complete homework graded assignments, many students do their homework in study groups that do not always promote individual learning. To improve analytical skills, electronic and paper tools are used; new chapter self-assessment question banks, using publisher materials, are provided on Bb with immediate feedback showing the student’s answer, the correct answer and the student’s score. Handout problem templates are used in classroom activities; students will complete assigned textbook problems individually and in teams noting the formula, model and procedural steps required. All class work material will be study material for quizzes and/or tests. Problem solving will be progressive, moving from single concepts to complex concepts; practice exercises will be followed by exercises which will be followed by problems. To strengthen business communication skills, chapter vocabulary exercises are built into classroom discussions, homework, quizzes and tests. Each chapter includes vocabulary, classroom activities, problem handouts, graded homework and quizzes. Tests cover 3 chapters at a time. Prior to completing practice exercises and/or exercises, students do not know the homework __problem__ to be collected for grading. All graded materials are posted in Bb’s grade book within 24 hours of submission. Blackboard chapter self-assessments were voluntary, not measured or scored.
 * __Describe your students' major characteristics__:
 * __Describe the innovation that you want to do (or have done), the expected impact on your class, and the means to collect evidences about the impact:__
 * __Processes__

The products were the __end of semester__ grade book scores and the __end of semester__ PTA assessment of the final test on the last three chapters. Grade book scores reflecting the entire semester were more favorable than the PTA assessment of the last 3 chapters. Grade book includes homework, quizzes and tests. __For instructional and assessment tools__, start with the first chapter, log results and make improvements in process and materials for each successive chapter to encourage participation and achievement. __For__ __the community__, carefully explain the purpose of the course organization and materials and commend each student and class for progress. Ask for student input early on. Encourage students without textbooks and poor attendance to use handouts, electronic materials, and O’Kelly resources. __Administratively__, post earned points in grade book within 24 hours, shorten late submission window for assignments, increase late points on late submissions in an attempt to encourage promptness. Provide students with abbreviated Bb instructions to self-assess chapter understanding with feedback; include how to access and use Bb, the dos and don’ts for the system to work correctly and how to report Bb issues. Be sure the student knows how to access grade book, e-mails, and the electronic copy of homework assignments.
 * __Products__
 * **__Lessons Learned__**__:__

For spring 2011 for 2316, attempt to use similar tools to those of fall of 2010 and/or improve upon the tools chapter-by-chapter with the same emphasis on communication and analysis for class work and homework. For 2317, provide similar materials, focusing chapter-by-chapter. Monitor progress by chapter. Save result for comparison, if appropriate, to subsequent semesters.
 * __**Future actions**__