1. ‘Untying the Accountancy Knot’
Project Team:
Frances Boylan, Pauline Rooney, Fionnghuala Kelly, Learning and Technology Team; Jennifer McConnell, DIT Disability Office; Alice Luby, School of Marketing; Rebecca Maughan; Dan Shanahan, School of Accounting and Finance; Daniel King, Tony Kiely, School of Hospitality Management and Tourism
The Problem with Accountancy
Experience indicates that many students have difficulty with Accountancy
Some students view Accountancy as “old”, “dusty”, and “uninteresting”, this results in lack of student engagement and involvement in learning, consequently many student tend to underperform.
Research also suggests that some students cannot assimilate financial data because of the presence of an inherent disability.
Solution to this Problem
To develop a set of e-learning tools for use as support within any financial accounting or business studies module. These tools must work for the challenged student, and must also be acceptable to those who teach it.
The Project Team Approach
Overall aim is to develop some interactive learning exercises that will make teaching and learning Accountancy enjoyable and fun
Adaptation of a cross-faculty collaborative approach to this task
Learning tool would acknowledge disability requirements, accountancy teaching and learning, technology design and research requirements
Incorporation of student involvement and feedback
Solution Scenarios
It is envisaged that the tutorials will enhance accessibility and engagement for all students, by ensuring a wider variety of e-learning resources which cater for multiple learning styles
This project will particularly identify improve the usability and accessibility of the tutorials for dyslexic students.
Some Potentially Interested Cohorts?
Students, Lecturers, Heads of School
The Teaching and Learning Centre, DIT Administration, DIT Disability Office, DIT Retention Office, The Media
DIT Access Office
Figure 1: Book Keeping Introduction
Figure 2: Book Keeping Flash Game
Future Work
Roll out and evaluation of initial e-learning modules in 2009
Continuation of work on a full set of computer assisted financial accounting learning tools
On completion, to make these learning tools available to any parties within DIT who express an interest in e-learning activities
To make research findings available to colleagues throughout DIT and externally
To participate in DIT Learning and Teaching Showcase & 2009 EdTech Conference.
Submit a paper for the IAFA (Irish Accounting and Finance Association) annual conference in May 2009