A Proposal to Improve Pass Rates in Financial Accounting and Reporting I

• In Event: Reception with Effective Learning Strategies Displays

Abstract

Low passing rates in Intermediate Accounting, or Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) I, are well-known. The trend at Georgia Gwinnett College is progressing downwards also. The faculty who teach accounting are concerned about the pass rate and have considered various methods to address the problem. In an approach to improve the pass rates, we are providing students with access to an accounting tutorial software, Quantum Adaptive Learning and Assessment SoftwareSM for Accounting (Quantum). Students must exhibit mastery within Quantum on three separate tutorials to improve their proficiency with the accounting cycle, in general, and adjusting and closing entries, specifically, as well as in the preparation of financial statements. The Quantum assignment is heavily weighted for course credit as an incentive to encourage students to complete the assignments. Students have an unlimited number of tries to exhibit mastery of each task. Following completion of the Quantum tutorials we administered a case that emphasizes proficiency with recording transactions and adjustments, including the preparation of financial statements. In order to track the students’ progress, we use the assessment reports provided within Quantum combined with their scores on the case. We are in the process of analyzing the final grade distributions for the fall 2016 semester when Quantum was first adopted and comparing them to the distributions from previous semesters. If we can demonstrate that Quantum improves student grades, we plan to require its adoption in FAR I in future semesters. If accepted for presentation at the 2017 Southeast AAA meeting, we will present the results of our analysis for the fall 2016 semester along with the results we have compiled for spring 2017.

Authors

• Karen B McCarron, Georgia Gwinnett College

• Kathleen B Pinson, Georgia Gwinnett College

• Taewoo Park, Georgia Gwinnett College