Bringing active learning into the accounting classroom
ISSN: 2049-372X
Article publication date: 30 July 2018
Issue publication date: 31 October 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of an accounting education pedagogy incorporating active learning approaches designed to engage first-year undergraduate business students and to aspire them to continue accounting as their academic major and entry into the accounting profession.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a questionnaire with a pre-/post-test design of 24 undergraduate business students enrolled in a course titled Accounting Active Learning Seminar (AALS) (test group) and 33 students who did not participate in the AALS (control group). The AALS incorporates various types of active learning methods designed by the authors to inspire students to continue with accounting as a career choice.
Findings
The findings show that participation in the AALS improved student’s motivation in accounting education and the likelihood of choosing accounting as their academic major. The active learning methods implemented in the AALS were effective in improving students’ confidence, of which degree contributed to students’ stronger works aspiration towards accounting professions. Further it was found that students who did not participate in the AALS tended to have lower attention dimensions of motivation, which was also significantly associated with lower percentage of students’ choice of academic major in accounting.
Originality/value
This is one of the few studies to empirically examine active learning on student engagement and performance with a focus on accounting. While the evidence shows that active learning has pedagogical benefits, the full potential of active learning is more likely to be realized when accounting educators design active learning carefully to address the “attention” and “confidence” attributes.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the research fund provided by the JSPS KAKENHI, Grant Number 15K03806.
Citation
Sugahara, S. and Dellaportas, S. (2018), "Bringing active learning into the accounting classroom", Meditari Accountancy Research, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 576-597. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-01-2017-0109
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited