USING REAL DATA TO ENHANCE LEARNING IN AN ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS COURSE

Textbooks provide students with clear problems with specific correct and incorrect answers that often round to even numbers. Data in the real-world is not that pretty. Students need to learn to take raw data, organize it,... [ view full abstract ]

Textbooks provide students with clear problems with specific correct and incorrect answers that often round to even numbers. Data in the real-world is not that pretty. Students need to learn to take raw data, organize it, and draw conclusions from it. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, critical thinking skills are important and will be tested more on the new Certified Public Accountants examination. Students need to be able to think critically and analyze data.

Over the last three years, I have partnered with non-profits to receive multi-year financial or quantitative data in Excel. In two cases, copies of financial statements and tax returns were also received. The projects began with the non-profit organization leader introducing their organization and its mission to the students. Some organization leaders suggested questions they would like answered from the data analysis. Students sign a confidentiality agreement and then begin working with the data. In groups, students determine how they will analyze the data. Project goals were broad allowing the students to determine how they would analyze the data and what key points they wanted to make.

Excel pivot tables and VLOOKUP skills were reviewed. Guidelines for formal business reports and presentations were provided. Students used these and other resources to organize the data. Students consulted other sources for related information when needed. In each case the students prepared a final written report and in two of the cases, the information was formally presented to the organization.

Students enjoyed providing helpful information to the organizations. Students also felt they had improved their Excel skills especially with Pivot tables. Students did not like that the information was unorganized or in varied formats. Students were frustrated by required rewrites of the paper to ensure it professional quality. Overall, both the students and the organizations found the projects to be useful.