Engaging Students in the Classroom: How to get students to be PRESENT in Introduction to Managerial Accounting

In the Introduction to Managerial Accounting course students attended class but were not actually “present.” The standard course policy requires that 3 percentage points be deducted from the student’s course average for each class missed beyond 3 classes. Therefore students had an incentive to attend class, but many lacked interest and had no motivation to participate. The first exam scores reflected this attitude with an average in the low sixties. I needed to find a way to get students interested and to take full advantage of each class rather than attend just to avoid point deductions. Students needed motivation to learn the material which is extremely challenging particularly for students who do not plan to major in Accounting. Non-accounting students often fail to recognize how accounting is important in their non-accounting business career. I began with an idea that would provide an incentive for students to get involved and learn the concept or skill for each class. I called it a “Bonus Pop-Quiz.” Each class I introduced the concept first by giving examples of how this concept or skill is important for every business student even those outside of accounting. For example Net Present Value methods for evaluating capital budgeting projects, whether a student is in Marketing and developing a new ad campaign or in Production and looking to acquire the newest production technology, they need to provide justification by estimating the future revenues and costs. First, we carefully work through examples together. Next, students complete examples in small groups to master the skill without specific guidance. Finally, I announce whether or not we will take a Bonus Pop-Quiz. If students are paying attention and actively engaged they do well on the quiz. The quiz also serves as bonus points toward their course grade. While the bonus points are minuscule in the overall grade scheme, student engagement is significant. Rather than waste class time, students are actively involved in learning the material to earn bonus quiz points. The average exam grade was higher by twelve percent. Students in Managerial Accounting are engaged and PRESENT!