Using a Self-Managed Learning Project Including Social Responsibility in an Intermediate Accounting II(III) Course at Two Universities with Student Outcome Assessment

• In Event: Teaching Cases

Abstract

A self-managed learning financial statement analysis project for an Intermediate Accounting II (III) course, which introduced the students to social responsibility issues, was investigated at two universities. This project integrated many of the Pathways Commission’s (2015) Common Body of Knowledge learning objectives and the AICPA Framework skills. The project offered the students an opportunity to experience teamwork, prepare written reports, make oral presentations, and evaluate their peers. The scores of Exam II (before the project) and the Final Exam (after the project) were used to measure the effectiveness of this self-managed learning technique. There was a significant difference at p = .01 between the mean scores on Exam II and on the Final Exam at the midwest university. According to a survey the students “strongly agreed/agreed” (4.50 at the midwest university and 4.38 at the southwest university) that this project increased their understanding of the financial statement analysis topics. Also, when making their investment decisions, about 9% of the students considered the company’s social responsibility as an important factor. It appears that this self-managed learning project can be successfully utilized as a teaching technique in an Intermediate Accounting II (III) course for financial statement analysis topics.

Authors

• Judith A Sage, University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley

• Lloyd G Sage, Sage & Sage