CPE SESSION 14: SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Using a Corporate Annual Report Project to Improve Business Understanding

Description/Objectives:
This workshop will be used to illustrate how an annual report project can make the study and analysis of a corporate annual report a fun, active, and rewarding learning experience. We will show how students can select their own company or how the instructor can direct the study and assign the same annual report(s) for the entire class. We will begin the learning with a brief explanation of what the student is about to engage in and why. Essential terms and concepts are defined and illustrated. This approach helps the student recognize the importance and usefulness of the information. Next, we will show how the student responds to one or more questions that pertain to specific sections of the corporate annual report. Last, we will identify the take-aways that each student will achieve by completing this annual report project.

At the close, the faculty will be provided with tips on grading and how the project can be managed to prevent sharing of information, etc. All of the aforementioned objectives will be met by using information from an actual annual report and completing specific sections of the annual report project.

Format/Structure:
The structure of the workshop will be hands-on. Each program participant will receive a hard copy of our annual report project titled "Introduction to the Corporate Annual Report: A Business Application," Stanko/Zeller, John Wiley & Sons, 2004 (ISBN: 0-471-27084-9). We will then proceed to discuss the benefits of using an annual report project in the classroom, take program participants through the project chapter by chapter, and close by discussing how the project can be graded and ways to improve the project take-aways.

Intended Audience:
Faculty that teach accounting principles at both the graduate and undergraduate levels as well as intermediate accounting faculty.

Presenters:
Thomas L. Zeller, Loyola University Chicago

* Denotes special requirements or prerequisite