AAA Spark Meeting of Regions

Designing Effective Assignments to Inspire Textbook Reading

• In Event: Effective Learning Strategies Poster Session B
  In Poster Session: Poster Sessions B: Room 1

Abstract

Although textbooks are required in accounting courses, students have been observed not fully utilizing textbooks in the learning process. When plenty of learning materials (PowerPoint slides, study guides, review questions, etc.) are provided, students tend to study in an “efficient” way by focusing on these supplemental resources instead of reading textbooks. Reading textbooks is important for several reasons. First, topics are discussed in an organized and logical way in textbooks. Reading the whole chapter helps students form a complete understanding of the background, significance and details of each topic and be able to make connections among the topics. Second, reading the textbook is helpful for improving students’ reading skills, which are important for their academic performance and professional development. But such skills have deteriorated among the iGeneration, who spend more time on reading fragmented information than on reading complete articles/books. Third, reading textbooks helps students recognize that the textbook is valuable and indispensable in the learning process.

I designed some assignments that are helpful for inspiring students to read textbooks.

1. Textbook reflection questions: the questions are about “reflection” rather than particular topics. In order to answer these questions, students have to read the whole chapter (or most parts of the chapter) and reflect on their reading. For example: What do you think about the authors' writing style? Which parts do you enjoying reading the most in chapter 1? Which parts inspire you to relate accounting to your own life? Imagine you are the author of this book, if you are making a new edition of the book, what would you add to this chapter? What examples of your personal experiences that you want to add in this chapter?

2. Textbook reading quizzes: after students read the textbook to preview a chapter, I use an in-class quiz to check their reading. For example: At the beginning of this chapter, which investor is used as an example in the introduction? What is the order of the following topics in this chapter?

3. In-class textbook reading exercise: I spend 5-10 minutes in class and ask students to read several important parts of this chapter. While they are reading, they need to complete the questions like filling in the blanks and short answer questions

4. Textbook storytelling activity: I assign each student a particular part of the chapter and ask them to introduce the content to their classmates using their own words.

Author

• Fang Zhao, Merrimack College