Mixing Old and New Teaching Methods to Get Better Student Results

Cynthia Lewis

One common challenge facing educators is determining how best to involve and actively engage students so they will do the work necessary to be successful in the course. In the author's experience, it is important for students to take ownership of their work and their success. Much has been written about the latest generation of students now entering college and the accounting profession. While gross generalizations will not get one very far, it is important for educators to recognize that their perceptions of their students and the reality of what they need to succeed may not align. The author tried both a “new school” approach she believed students would utilize and an “old school” approach that she did not think they would embrace in an attempt to help struggling students. The approach described below has improved outcomes for students in the author's introductory accounting class.