Pedagogy

How we approach our teaching makes all the difference to the student experience

These resources focus mainly on approaches to teaching, such as active learning, assessment strategies, effective feedback etc.

If you’re looking for specific ideas for the best way, the best order or the best words to use to teach accounting, try Teaching tips where there are lots of practical ideas for your teaching.

Hawkwell House in its garden setting.

Pop-up Symposium 2023

We have exciting news. For the first time, Accounting Cafe members are meeting in person at Hawkwell House near Oxford on Friday 21 April, for “Pop-up Symposium 2023” This is Accounting Cafe’s first face-to-face gathering. We’ll be enjoying a fun-packed day of short presentations, workshops and discussions on a broad…Read more

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Dual coding in accounting education

Summary: A simple way to embrace dual coding in accounting education is to use a concept map. This “almost certainly” improves learning. Don’t reinvent the wheel: there’s a free one that you can adapt, copy and distribute. Give credit to its creators. This is the BaSIS Board. It combines words…Read more

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Abolish or reform accountancy degrees?

This event was organised by Rethinking Accountancy, part of the Rethinking Economics network. This was their first live seminar in February 2023. Professor Joan Ballantine, University of Ulster Joan Ballantine outlined a historical context of accounting degrees, explaining that as their number has expanded, they’ve been shaped by increased competition…Read more

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Diagram showing a simple transaction cycle.

Using role play to teach accounting transaction cycles

How role play in accounting education creates an effective and engaging lesson about a topic that can feel very dry. This example uses a case study to explore the processes involved in simple transaction cycles. I introduced this activity in an Accounting Information Systems (AIS) course for first-year undergraduates studying…Read more

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Connecting the body with learning

Right after Christmas your body reminds you, uncomfortably, of all the extravagant dinners you’ve had. But have you thought about connecting the body with learning? Susan Hrach [pronounced ‘rock’] does so in her book ‘Minding Bodies’. [Ref. 1] She makes two claims. One, the body needs to be in a…Read more

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Cartoon of six hats of different colours colours: blue, red, white, green, yellow and black

Creative thinking in accounting education

Last month saw the IgNobel awards for “achievements that first make people laugh, then make them think”. My personal recent favourite is the 2019 award to economics researchers who tested which country’s paper money is best at transmitting dangerous bacteria. It’s precisely this ‘silly but serious’ theme that struck me…Read more

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Dr Umair Riaz, Dr Muhammad Al Mahameed and Lara Gee

From unrequited love to sleeping with the enemy

This Accounting Cafe online seminar on 25 March 2022 explored the future relationship between universities and the professional accounting bodies. Our guests argued that to protect the future of accounting education a new social partnership is necessary between universities and the professional accounting bodies. A significant problem is the current…Read more

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Innovations in accounting education

Accounting Cafe online seminar on 17 February 2022 This Accounting Cafe seminar was hosted by Susan Smith, an innovative and prize-winning accounting educator, when she was Associate Dean at University of Sussex Business School. Here are 50 minutes of ideas and practical suggestions to help you to deliver innovative accounting…Read more

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Embedding a single company case in an IFRS course

Alice Shepherd is an Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance at Leeds University Business School, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and an award winning teacher with specialised knowledge of online and distance learning. Embedded case study A single company case study is embedded into the course, so that…Read more

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Phenomenon-based learning

Accounting Cafe online seminar on 19 November 2021 Liz Marsland is a trailblazer in phenomenon-based learning. She unpacks the methods, the challenges and the benefits to students and teachers in using this multi-disciplinary approach that has wide application across subject areas and throughout educational levels. Elizabeth Marsland CPA SHEA, from…Read more

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Concept maps in accounting education

Presentation by Toby York TACTYC Virtual Annual Conference on 15 May 2021 1. Background paper My presentation, in three parts, is based on a draft paper, The benefits of concept mapping in accounting education [PDF]. Part one: identifies some common problems with current accounting education practices, drawn chiefly from personal…Read more

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Accounting Cafe

Seminar: Deriving profit using a concept map

Toby York and Paul Jennings hosted a Zoom seminar on 20 May 2021 This was the third seminar in a series about using concept maps in accounting education. Session 1: Concept mapping in accounting education Session 2: The funding butterfly This approach emphasises the organisational structure of accounting knowledge, which…Read more

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Accounting Cafe

Seminar: The funding butterfly

Toby York and Paul Jennings hosted a Zoom seminar on 18 March 2021 Zoom cloud recording (34 minutes): Toby York demonstrates the “funding butterfly”, part of the Colour Accounting method, which he uses to introduce students to the accounting equation. Starts Content 00:00 Introduction 02:04 The BaSIS FrameworkTM 04:35 Where…Read more

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Accounting Cafe

PowerPoint design rules for educators

With the risk of sounding like the gun lobby, there’s nothing wrong with PowerPoint, only PowerPoint users. Like it or not, we’re in the communications business and our audiences know what good comunication looks and sounds like. Here are my rules for slide design. It is not lesson planning software…Read more

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Accounting Cafe

Games & simulations in accounting and finance education (GSAFE)

Aston Business School’s virtual conference takes place on 20 April 2021 The GSAFE virtual conference explores games, simulations and playful learning in accounting and finance education. The themes cover pedagogical techniques in learning, teaching practice and research. Plenary presentations: Professor Jordi Carenys (EADA Business School) Matt Davies (Aston University) Susan…Read more

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Accounting Cafe

Seminar: Concept mapping in accounting education

Toby York hosted a Zoom seminar on on 18 February 2021 Starts Content 00:00 Introduction 05:19 Module learning outcomes 06:60 The BaSIS Framework 10:45 Introducing accounting to students 14:27 Conversation 1: point of view 16:25 Conversation 2: the funding butterfly 27:32 Conversation 3: deriving profit 30:00 Materials and implementation 31:45…Read more

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Two towers of wooden blocks — one with blocks missing and the other solid and well built.

DEAD CLIC: it’s time to kill it off

Let’s be clear. Nobody learns the fundamentals of accounting by using an eight-letter mnemonic. They may have their place, but DEAD CLIC isn’t one to keep. Let’s kill it off. A friend told me that when she was learning accounting she dared to ask, “Why do debits increase both expenses…Read more

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A concept map showing the five finacial statement elements and their relationships to each other

Why concept mapping is important

A version of this article was first published on LinkedIn on 30 July 2020. Concept maps are visual representations of information that show everything in a single view. They help students to create a clear mental model, which clarifies their thoughts and provides a shared language of understanding in a…Read more

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Accounting Cafe

Ask a stupid question

This article was first published on Linkedin on 4 July 2018. Last week I was in a meeting to plan a Jazz Mass at St Matthew’s Westminster next Autumn. During the conversation Ewan, the lead musician, assured us that the congregation would be able to sing along with the hymns…Read more

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