11. Contract Grading:
Impact on Student Learning and Motivation in Accounting and Management Classes
Presenters: Anne C. Warrington, Michigan Technological University
Amy B. Hietapelto, Michigan Technological University
William B. Joyce, Eastern Illinois University
Description: More college
students have a basic understanding of how they learn new material. Through
trial and error, they know what works and what doesn't work for them. For
example, some benefit from reading text material or methodically working
through problems, while others achieve success through the challenge of a game
or in a group environment. Learning styles vary widely in most student
populations, yet higher education has traditionally focused on one assessment
process for all students. Accounting instructors do not want to abandon
traditional testing models in core courses, yet most realize this is not the
only assessment method to use. The contract grading approach, used in both
accounting and management classes, gives students a chance to place more course
points in assignment categories that are consistent with their individual
learning styles. Student contracts can be designed to work with a variety of
instructor pedagogies, by expanding or limiting the percentage of total course
point included in the contract. The instructor is free to determine the most
appropriate allocation of control and may require participating in all course
assignments by setting minimum and maximum ranges in student contract. Sample
contracts used in both introductory accounting and management courses and
several hundred favorable student evaluations of the contract grading process
spanning three years will be presented during the poster session.
