What will I learn and how will I be graded?

When do the Modules open?

The first thing that you should know is that most your assignments will be open at the beginning of the semester so that you can work ahead on them. Due dates are always on Sunday nights at 11:59 pm. (The only items that are not open at the beginning are the discussions (because I want us all to be involved at the same time) and the tests).

Is there a required book?

Each chapter will have required reading, homework, quizzes, and discussions. There will also be periodic tests, covering multiple chapters. For Financial Accounting, we will use Financial Accounting (10th edition) by John Wild, published by McGraw Hill. For Managerial Accounting, we will use Managerial Accounting (8th edition) by John Wild, also published by McGraw Hill. You may choose to have just an eBook, or a physical copy. Either way, you will need an access code for the Connect platform where you will do the reading and homework assignments. (The code costs around $60 and includes the eBook). Warning: Please don't rent the book or buy a used copy - they don't include the access code and you will end up spending more money.

What resources are offered?

Whether online or on ground, all my classes are contained in a Canvas shell which will contain everything you need for my course. I divide it into modules, where each module corresponds to a chapter of the book. This design helps you to stay on track and only have to go to one place for all the materials. In each module, you will find lecture notes, sample questions and solutions, additional practice material, PowerPoint slides, and videos.

How much time will I need?

I want to give you an idea of how much time you will need in my class. Of course, these are approximations, and you may need more or less time, depending on how easily you learn the material. My classes are offered in 4-week, 8-week, and 14-week sessions, both on-ground and online. Students can expect to spend between 96 - 144 hours, learning the material, completing assignments, and studying for assessments. (If the class is on ground, approximately 48 of those hours will be in the classroom). This means that for a 4-week session, you should budget 24 - 36 hours for the class; for a 8-week session, plan on 14 - 18 hours; and for 14-week sessions, you will need 7 - 10 hours.

The remainder of this page will give you an idea of the type of assignments you will have in the course and how they will be graded. The assignments and points are only examples, and may be different in your specific course. (For example, I may have fewer tests each worth more points in a 4-week course than in an 8-week course). The official syllabus for your course will be in your Canvas shell and that will provide the the details for that semester.

Grades:

Grades in the class will be based on scores earned from the assignments listed above. No extra credit work will be given after the class has ended. The following scale will be used:

A: 90% or above

B: 80% - 89.99%

C: 70% - 79.99%

D: 60% - 69.99%

F: Below 60%

What type of assignments will I do?

I like to have a variety of ways for you to earn excellent grades in my class. Many of the activities may be done with your fellow students and are open-everything, and I drop the lowest score in some assignments. Read on to see what you might have to do in my course.

Homework

There will be a homework assignment for each module in the class. Homework is designed to help you understand the material, recognize areas where you have problems, and prepare you for the examinations. The best way to learn accounting is to do accounting, and this is why you have homework. You may have unlimited attempts to do each homework assignment and only the highest score will count towards your grade. And, your lowest score will be dropped.

Reading

There will be a reading assignment for each module in the class. You will have to read the highlighted material and answer questions based on the reading. The more questions you answer correctly, the more points you earn. Again, you have unlimited attempts to do each reading assignment and only the highest score will count towards your grade. And, your lowest score will be dropped.

Quizzes

Each module will contain a quiz. . The quizzes are designed to help you practice the material, identify areas of misunderstanding, and prepare you for the tests. For this reason, you may have two(2) attempts to do each quiz and only the higher score will count towards your grade. And, your lowest score will be dropped.

Tests

There will be four or five tests during the semester, depending on whether it is a 4-week, 8-week, or 16-week session. The majority of the questions in each test will address the new material since the prior test. The remainder of the test will include questions from previous chapters.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) Assessments

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are basically the core skills of the class. If I do my job as an instructor and your do your job as a student, CLOs are the things you should know and be able to do upon completion of this class.

In my classes, CLOs are assessed with an open-book, open-notes project. There are three or four CLOs in my courses, depending on the course.

Discussions

The discussion boards are the most collaborative part of the course, and I have designed them to foster a sense of community among the students, and between the students and myself. Rather than focusing on rules of accounting or calculations, I have redesigned the discussions in my classes to focus on the sustainability and social corporate responsibility of US corporations. We will consider the environmental, social, and governance aspects of major businesses. You’ll see a few posts from me each week in your discussions (I read all posts, but only comment on a few each week.) The more quality contributions you make to the forum, the more likely you are to derive benefit from them. Some topics will be directly related to accounting, while others may concern other skills such as writing, reading, and general knowledge.

Syllabus Quiz and Surveys

I usually include 3-4 surveys in my class, some of which are anonymous. They help you to identify where you are struggling and they help me to see what I need to add/change in the course.