Sharpen Your Teaching Skills Sessions

Presented on Friday and Saturday at the meeting, sessions in this track will feature presentations by educators from across the country sharing valuable teaching tips that you can put to use immediately in your classes.

April 5, 2019

10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Session 1.01: Equipping Students for the Accounting Profession With Collaborative Learning
Presenters: S. Cathy McCrary, Georgia Gwinnett College, Tomeika Williams, Baker College Center for Graduate Studies
As accounting educators, we all deal with time constraints and the underlying struggle related to covering relevant content while implementing teaching strategies and assignments that challenge students to move beyond their comfort zones and develop the requisite skills for success in the accounting profession. Indeed, we are often bound by our own comfort zones along with real and perceived time limits. Thus, we must admit that the content we require students to learn inevitably changes with time and, as human beings, our students are likely to forget the details of content.
Making Learning Visible in the Accounting Classroom: Helping Learners Discover "What They Don't Know"
Presenter: Lana Becker, East Tennessee State University
The literature related to the educational construct of self-regulated learning provides clear evidence that accurate self-assessment is a critical factor in learning. Unfortunately learners, in particular novice learners, possess poor "calibration" or self-assessment skills. That is, learners tend to be overconfident when they assess their degree of learning of a particular skill or concept. This inability to recognize "what you don't know" can often be attributed tot he fact that the learner may not appreciate the complexity of the material being learned. The inability to differentiate between "remembering" and "understanding" and other epistemological attitudes and beliefs can also impact self-assessment of learning. Regardless of the cause, low calibration hinders the learning process and ultimately academic performance.

1:45 pm - 3:25 pm
Session 2.01: A SWOT Analysis of Accounting for Entrpreneurs
Presenters: Earl Godfrey, Gardner Webb University, Melissa W. Hickman, Reinhardt University, Michele M. McGowan, King's College, Tara H. Saracina, Claflin University
Entrepreneurship is on the rise. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reports 25 million Americans were estimated to be starting or running a new business. The perception of entrepreneurial opportunities increased as well as the confidence level of entrepreneurial abilities. At the same time the fear of failure increased (GEM 2016). Functional accounting processes are important to the effective launch of entrepreneurial ventures.
Integrating Healthcare into the Accounting Curriculum Through a Capital Investment Decision Making Simulation
Presenters: Melissa W. Hickman, Reinhardt University, Michele M. McGowan, King's College, Tara H. Saracina, Claflin University
With many of the challenges faced by the healthcare industry related to accounting and finance, the healthcare industry represents one of the fastest growth opportunities for accounting firms. However, little attention is payed to integrating healthcare related topics into the accounting/finance curriculum. Therefore, the purpose of this presentation is to present a comprehensive, step-by-step, semester-long project that teaches the basics of capital investment decision making that incorporates knowledge of the healthcare industry.
Practical Ways to Incorporate Critical Thinking in Introductory Accounting Courses
Presenters: Brenda Mattison, Tri-County Technical College, Tracie Miller-Nobles, Austin Community College
In this presentation participants will learn practical ways to incorporate critical thinking in the introductory accounting courses. Topics include what critical thinking is and why critical thinking assignments are important in introductory accounting courses.

3:55 pm - 5:35 pm
Session 3.01: Bridging the Gap Between Understanding and Experiencing Technology in the Accounting Classroom
Presenter: Holly Hawk, The University of Georgia
Technology is increasingly more important today. Specifically, within accounting, professionals and students are required to learn about and engage with technologies that help them examine and analyze large data-sets. Thus, it is pertinent that today's student be able to adapt to the technologies and understand the efficiencies gained. Therefore, the objective of this session will be to share more in-depth details about a technology-based case study and the pedagogy adopted.
The Future of Technology and Accounting Education: Developing Creative, Critical Thinkers in the Classroom
Presenters: Markus Ahrens, Saint Louis Community College-Meramec, Cathy J. Scott, Navarro College
Are you having difficulty keeping up with how quickly technology is changing? Do you feel that you already have too many topics to cover in your accounting course? This interactive session will discuss disruptive technologies and how quickly they're changing the accounting profession and the accounting classroom. Disruptive technologies discussed in the session will include Blockchain, AI, Advanced Robotics, 3-D Printing and Big Data. Resources will be introduced which can help to successfully integrate technology into your classroom environment. 

April 6, 2019

9:05 am - 10:45 am
Session 4.01: Making the Case for Using Excel in Introductory Accounting Courses
Presenters: Christine Ann Jonick, University of North Georgia, Jennifer Schneider, University of North Georgia
The presentation describes strategies for using Excel in accounting courses using a case study for process costing in managerial accounting. The case includes written narrative, a PowerPoint presentation to introduce the topic, an algorithmically designed Excel spreadsheet, and related journal entries that auto-grade. The Excel-based case is a hands-on activity where students experience systematic allocation of a whole among various parts as well as the flow of the accounting cycle from one period to the next. It provides opportunities to practice decision making and apply critical thinking skills.
Using Movie Clips to Help Teach Accounting Principles
Presenter: Kelli Horne, Lander University
Movie clips are a useful way to illustrate accounting principles in managerial or cost accounting along with auditing classes. They promote a fun learning environment and student engagement when faculty discusses with the class how the clip illustrates a specific accounting concept.

11:15 am - 12:30 pm
Session 5.01: Incorporate Strategic and Emerging Technologies into Your Accounting Courses!
Presenters: Deniz A. Appelbaum, Montclair State University, Graham Gal, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Robyn L. Raschke, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
You don't have to teach systems to learn how to integrate emerging technologies that are already transforming business activity and make your students aware of their impact on accounting.
Transform Your Accounting Classes with Data Analytics, Technology, and Visualization
Presenter: Kristine M. Brands, United States Air Force Academy
Business analytics and technology are major trends that are affecting and disrupting the accounting profession. The growth of technology is changing the way accountants do their jobs. This session will explain and demo software packages that address how to implement business analytics and technology in auditing, financial, managerial, and forensic accounting in the accounting curriculum.