Spring 2024
Financial Accounting on Spreadsheet
Photo by J. Kelly Brito on Unsplash
Meet the Teacher
Hi, I'm Linda Kropp and I'm your instructor for this online adventure--Financial Accounting on Spreadsheet. I'm excited to meet you and get started! I want you to feel prepared for our first week of class so I put together this site for you. Please review the information below. You might want to bookmark this site for future reference.
I'll see you in class (online that is)!
~Linda
(You are welcome to call me either Linda or Professor Kropp.)
Week 1 Success Kit
How and when to attend our first week:
Our course starts on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. You will need to log into Canvas and our course to complete the Course Introduction Module by Thursday, January 18, 2024.
How this course works:
This is a fully online class which means we will not meet in person. You can complete the work when it fits in your schedule as long you submit by the due date. We will cover 5 chapters of computer based training in the Excel etext/print text along with 5 supplemental (shorter) chapters of etex to prep for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Exam, and 11 problems/cases from the Lab Manual. This usually works out to 1-2 chapters per week. Each week's work is due on Tuesday night, midnight.
Textbook chapters contain an interactive assignment to teach you Excel, a project, and a quiz. SIMnet is fully integrated with Canvas and can be accessed from our Canvas course. The text has a 14-day courtesy access so no need to get behind if your financial aid is delayed. The MOS review chapters contain interactive assignments and a quiz which closely align with the MOS objectives.
Some chapters will contain a Discussion between class members. These discussions are based on various technology related topics.
Due dates for week one:
The Course Introduction Module ends with a quiz on it's contents. This is due on Thursday, January 18th. You will need to score a 10/10 on the Course Introduction Quiz to open up the Chapter 1 Module. Chapter 1 from the Excel Text, MOS Chapter 1, and the Introductory Discussion will be due by Tuesday, January 23rd.
Due dates in general:
The course has assignments from both an etext and a Lab Manual. Each weekly module will include the work due for that week. Each new module is due on Tuesday, midnight. Assignments will be accepted late with a late penalty of 3% per day late. If circumstances beyond your control should arise, please reach out and we will work together to help you succeed. If you have a reason clearly beyond your control, due dates can be extended.
Materials you will need for week one:
You will need the following Text: Microsoft Complete In Practice Excel 365 with SIMnet 2021 access code by Randy Nordell, McGrawHill Publishing Company. ISBN: # 9781265946005. This etext and SIMnet access contain interactive lessons to teach Excel with additional access to lessons that focus on the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) objectives.
This package is available for purchase at the Campus Bookstore. The etext with access code can also be purchased from the publisher’s website during the registration process. Purchasing directly from McGraw Hill, through the Canvas course, is usually the lest expensive option.
Note: a 14-day courtesy access is available to get you started!
Communication Essentials
Contact Me
The best way to reach me is via the Canvas Inbox. I can also be reached at my MJC email, kroppl@mjc.edu. I will get back to you within 24-48 hours, usually quicker. Possibly slightly longer on a holiday.
Ask a peer
If you encounter a general question about the course, I invite you to ask it in the Q&A Discussion board in our Canvas course. Your question will be seen by your peers and if anyone has the answer -- by all means, answer it! If your question is personal in nature, please send it directly to me through the Canvas Inbox or my MJC email.
Our Classroom Pact
What you can expect from me:
As your instructor, I will be actively present in your learning experience.
I will create a positive and supportive environment where you will feel safe to experiment and share ideas.
I will respond to your questions within 24-48 hours and provide individualized support in response to your needs. Weekends and holidays may take a little longer.
I will provide feedback on your assignments within one week.
As an educator, I understand that you are busy and that you have many competing priorities. Thus, I have built in support and flexibility for your successful completion of this course.
What I will expect from you:
You will log into our course at least twice each week to review and evaluate the work due in the current week's module.
Each week, you will invest about 9 hours of time to the coursework, assignments & activities, and quizzes.
You will submit all assignments and activities on time, and complete quizzes by the due date.
You will challenge yourself to try new things, keep an open mind, and recognize that mistakes are a vital part of the learning process. We all make them and we will celebrate them together.
You will be thoughtful in your interactions with peers while taking extra care to respect diverse perspectives and support the professional growth of others with varying years of experience.
My Teaching Philosophy
Teaching is important to me because I value education and learning. My philosophy has always been that I am more of a learning facilitator than simply a lecturer and disciplinary expert. I am more a "guide on the side" rather than a "sage on the stage." I believe people not only learn through listening but mostly by doing. That's why I seek to create a learning environment that makes you, the student, feel welcome and ready to learn. Remember, learning is the primary goal of any class you take.
We are part of a diverse learning community. That diversity is an asset because you will not only learn from me, but you will also learn from your classmates. By participating freely, you will also learn more about yourself.
Course Goals
Course Learning Outcomes:
When you have finished this course, you should be able to:
Construct complex spreadsheet formulas and functions to build effective accounting spreadsheets from start to finish.
Format spreadsheets to enhance visualization, readability and presentation including charts and graphs.
Design user-friendly spreadsheet templates to collect and communicate accurate and useful accounting information.
Other learning goals include these MOS Excel Associate Objectives:
Manage Worksheets and Workbooks
Manage Data Cells and Ranges
Manage Tables and Table Data
Perform Operations by using Formulas and Functions
Manage Charts
My Advice for Success
In order to succeed in my course I recommend you:
Log into our class at least twice per week to see what is happening that week.
Set your Canvas notification preferences so that course Announcements go directly into your preferred email.
Don't get behind--each module opens the Friday before it "officially" opens so you will have two weekends to complete a module.
Be sure to watch the demonstration videos for each Lab Manual problem as it explains just how to do the assignment.
If you DO get behind, reach out! Give me a call (or Canvas message) and let's work together to help you succeed.
Don't just ask me, read the "Wisdom Wall" for advice from past students.
Have an open mind!
Support for You
Canvas Help & Technical Support
Canvas Helpline - (209) 575-7900 - Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Live Chat is available from Canvas (click the "?" at the bottom of the left-most navigation pane)
Accommodations for Disabilities
If you have an accommodations form from the Accommodations and Support Center (ASC), please send me a copy right away so we can work together to help you succeed in this class.
Accommodations and Support Center (ASC) can be found on the web, by phone 209-575-6225, Fax 209-575-6852 or TTY 209-575-6863. The office can also be reached by email at: mjcasc@mjc.edu.
Tutoring Resources for Business Students
The Founder's Hall 114 Lab is open Monday - Friday from 8 am - 7 pm. (Hours may vary slightly--I'll keep the Resources Module updated).
Excel and Financial Accounting tutoring is available.
Business students can use the computers in the lab for Canvas, Connect, writing papers, etc.
Additional Resources:
Tutoring & Writing Center: Tutoring Information and Contacts
