Presenters:
Mary Jo Billiot, New Mexico State University
Russell Calk, New Mexico State University
Description:
To improve student performance in the first accounting course, a value-added learning environment is created that includes a series of supplemental learning activities that appeal to students’ different information-gathering preferences. Learning activities are constructed to appeal to the ways in which people like information to come to them, that is, through visual means, auditory means, or kinesthetic means, all combined with a degree of reading and writing. Supplemental learning activities include LEGO Demonstrations, Build-Your-Own Business (BYOB) Assignments, and Team Learning Labs. In addition, students’ perceptions of the value of each learning activity are assessed through a detailed survey of the particular activity. By linking students’ perceptions to performance, a means of evaluating each learning activity has been constructed so that value-added activities may be retained and those activities that are non-value added may be adjusted or removed. Participants in the poster session will be provided a brief example of value-added learning activities and an assessment model for determining value-added activities.
We anticipate that this method of assessing student perceptions of materials and the effect of those perceptions on performance will make it easier to reach the goal of presenting useful accounting information that can lead to better decision making and attracting accounting majors.
