Problem of
Practice:
How can I make Accounting more engaging for
students? I want to eliminate some of
the book work/worksheets. I would like
to see Accounting more personalized and exciting. More importantly, how do I move from the Enhancement
level-SAMRThe idea I am going to work with:
Hi Jess,
ReplyDeleteI am eager to hear how your students respond to this idea. This idea puts them in the driver's seat and allows them to see how accounting would really work if they were to own their own business.
Below are a few questions and/or comments that I thought of the first time I viewed your prototype. I will take another look tomorrow or Tuesday and share more thoughts.
If the students chose are partnership, will you allow them to partner with another
student in the class?
Will you have your students research the type of business that they are modeling
their own business after? For example, a restaurant may have accounts that a
shoe store would not have, etc. Would it be possible for them to meet with
business members of the community to discuss this project for some real like
input?
Will you require a certain number of subsidiary ledgers?
How will you determine the monetary value that the dice represents? For example,
if you roll a 1, is that $1 or $1000?
What about requiring the students to write a report summarizing the business and
and the outcome of its operations during the fiscal period. Maybe they could
present this report to the class and answer questions. This would bring the project
up to a higher level because now they not only need to know how to record the
date, but they also need to know how to interpret it.
What if they had to present a report to a panel made up of students who were
pretending to be bankers. The presentation could be based on the fact that they
were applying for a loan. After the presentation, the panel would have to either grant
or deny the loan and give their reasoning. Again, this brings the level of knowledge
up a notch because the students have to apply their knowledge after they have
analyzed the information being presented.
Another thought. What about hosting a business brunch for your students? They could dress in business attire, share business cards (they could make them in class) and maybe mingle with some business professionals that you could invite as well.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!!!
DeleteHi Jessica.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of rolling the dice and creating some dramatic situation that might occur for the business, I assume there will be both good and bad scenarios given.
I love the idea Tracy gave for having them dress the part. What about instead of casual Friday, you create a professional Monday ( or whatever day you choose). It is good experience for them to learn to dress professionally. At our school we have a "closet" set up where professional clothes have been donated for students who might not own, for example, a tie to go out on a job interview. Students who are in need can look there.
You could have them share any issues they are experiencing with the other members of the class, like a real business might do they can create a support network with other businesses that might be having a similar issue. Or you could assign them a difficult issue to have to iron out and require that they work with another business to solve the issue.
You could also have them write a reflection on what they see happening to the business over the next quarter, year, 5 years, etc. Have them put some thought into what kinds of things may influence the financial state of the business over time. What predictions are they willing to make? They need to try to justify their answers with sound reasoning.
I really like the networking idea. We do have our students dress professional at least 8 times a semester. But I like the idea of problem solving.
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ReplyDeleteFeedback
In looking at your problem of having a more engaged classroom in accounting, I think there are many ways to have the classroom design their own business or to have mentors in the community. Being able to let your students go is very hard to do but it is something that we have to do.
Some applications that I have found are: http://www.startheregoplaces.com/about/simulation/turnaround/
http://titan3.ja.org/
I was in Junior Achievement when I was in high school and by being there we had a company and had to develop it into a working/profit establishment. Maybe that would help in your problem and having students out in the business world with mentors for the students to see accounting in real world applications.
One of my muses Jim Bower, has designed a application for students to run a company that is interactive the site is http://b.whyville.net/smmk/persPage/index.
I hope that some of the sites I have given you will help you in your problem of practice. Your Blendspace and your video I thought was complete.
Very helpful indeed Shari, Thank you!
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