9. Contextual
Learning in Accounting
Presenter: Alan Teixeira, Institute of Chartered Accountants of New
Zealand
Description: Students respond
positively to learning examples, problems, and cases that they perceive to be
contextually relevant, either to their own life experiences or business
aspirations.
The session will present substantive,
and anecdotal, evidence of the effectiveness of contextual learning. After
contextual learning was introduced in a first-year accounting course, increases
in the quantity and quality of students electing to continue in accounting were
observed. Perhaps the most dramatic and satisfying statistic was retaining 92
percent of our top students in accounting, compared to 32 percent prior to the
introduction of contextual learning. The higher retention levels were mirrored
by improved student perceptions of the course.
Developing contextual learning
resources need not be burdensome. Although sophisticated web resources and
business simulations will be demonstrated, very simple, and replicable,
examples will also be provided.
Learning Outcomes
The objectives of the session are to:
- Convince participants of the
effectiveness of Contextual Learning in increasing the quality of the learning
experience for teachers and students; and
- Provide participants with practical
examples and ideas of how they might develop contextual learning experiences
for their students.
