An International Meeting of the American Accounting Association 2005 Annual Meeting August 7–10, 2005 San Francisco, California Come to the City by the Bay!

Effective Learning Strategies Forum
Monday, August 8, 2005

Session 26
Using Learning Journals in Introductory Accounting Courses

Presenters:
Yan Bao, Frostburg State University
Sharon L. Robinson, Frostburg State University

Description:
The idea of learning journals was introduced originally in online education. We apply this concept in the regular classroom.

Students are required to complete a learning journal before coming to the class for each new chapter. The instructor provides precise instructions about the content with directed questions. The typical journal questions relate to the major concepts of the new chapter, what interests the student, how the concepts are related to the student’s prior experience, the best way to learn the concepts, and how the student will apply the concepts personally. The instructor provides writing prompts for journals on an individual basis, particularly during the first few weeks. The use of Blackboard helps reduce the instructor’s review time to a manageable level.

Learning journals allow students to synthesize what they have read with their own experiences. During class the instructor could also ask students questions about their journals to deepen their reflection. Learning journals are wonderful tools for students to get ready for the class and to reflect on their own learning process!

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