"Flipping" the Tax Classroom using Online Teaching Aids

• In Event: Innovations and Challenges in Teaching Tax

Abstract

The overall purpose of our research study is to further the development of innovative teaching methods and teaching aids in undergraduate taxation courses, for both classroom and online delivery, with the aim of improving tax education, thereby increasing student’s success as tax professionals. This research study has two important objectives. The first objective is to critically examine the concept of a flipped classroom and how it can be adapted to meet the learning objectives and outcomes of an undergraduate taxation course. Second, the research study examines the use of online teaching aids that can be used in a flipped tax classroom. Our overall objective is to combine the use of online teaching aids and other interactive material in “flipping” the delivery of undergraduate taxation courses.
Our research study includes the development and testing of video lectures, which include narrated computer slideshows and tutorials. Consultation with several post-secondary instructors provided initial input on the use of video technology to enhance teaching accounting related courses. We have developed twenty video tutorials and are testing their effectiveness while teaching tax courses at MacEwan University (Edmonton, Canada) during the 2013-2014 year. Our objective is to provide the student with hands-on experience with these teaching aids, and we are particularly interested in obtaining feedback from students, on the relationship between course delivery methods and learning. Therefore, we are also conducting student surveys during the 2013-2014 year to assess if the video tutorials enhanced their learning experience.

Author

• Odette Pinto, MacEwan University