Case-Based Approach to Teaching Intermediate Accounting: Addressing Faculty Concerns and Competency/Assurance of Learning Requirements

The authors propose the use of a fully integrated case approach to replace the traditional pedagogy of: read the chapter, listen to a lecture, do homework, then parrot back on an exam what was ‘remembered’. Students working in teams develop their ability to: analyze financial statement data, research new issues encountered, analyze their research results as it applies to client issues, and determine the impact on client financial statements including required disclosures. Administrators will be provided with a means to evaluate achievement of competencies and assurance of learning requirements including communication skills, critical thinking, decision analysis, and quantitative mastery of the subject matter. Faculty can assist students in developing both written and oral communication skills through playing role of: corporate controller, CPA firm partner, and corporate stockholder at company’s annual stockholders’ meeting. Concerns of free-riders among the student teams and academic integrity issues involving disclosure of case solutions are addressed