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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Oct 13, 2010 by Business Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
Accounting II by McGraw Hill provides a demonstration of the tools available with their online course learning management system for select principles of accounting textbooks they publish. This demonstration focuses on corporations and the use of financial accounting data (topic 4). Also covered are terms and reports used in analyzing cost behavior and ratio calculations. This type of module would be part of an overall course that would be loaded into an instructor's LMS for an alternate form of delivery. |
| Learning Goals: |
After completing topic 4, students will be able to:
Apply the tools of financial analysis to perform horizontal and vertical analysis.
Calculate and interpret various financial ratios. |
| Target Student Population: |
Sophomore level college students completing the second half of a principles of financial/managerial course beginning with a typical stockholder's equity chapter and proceeding through managerial accounting. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
First principles course. |
| Type of Material: |
Online course |
| Recommended Uses: |
To supplement a bricks and mortar course or use for an online course. |
| Technical Requirements: |
Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0 or Firefox 1.0 or 1.5
Adobe Flash Player 7
Adobe Shockwave
Quicktime
Adobe Reader
PowerPoint, Word, Excel
Includes a systems test for Java and cookie settings |
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| Strengths: |
Note: This site a promomotion demonstrating a product. It is designed to encourage an instructor to contact McGraw Hill and engage them in designing an on-line course, for a fee.
With that said, the tools available are cutting edge.
Content is presented clearly and concisely.
The organization of the materials is exceptional.
Content is accurate and relevant.
An adequate amount of information is presented per page to minimize excessive scrolling.
Content is divided into manageable segments with self-testing features included.
Integration and summary of concepts is excellent. |
| Concerns: |
The design of the multiple choice questions include “all of the above” or “none of the above” options, which is a flawed methodology in terms of confirming what students know. A couple of small errors exist in the sample multiple choice questions.
The embedded videos used are somewhat dated. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
Potential effectiveness would depend on the actual course implemented. However, based on the Topic 4 materials available, this learning management system features have the potential to be extremely effective, particularly for an online course or for supplementing an on-campus course.
Prerequisite knowledge and learning objectives by topic have been included.
Formative assessments provide excellent engagement through the use of games (flash cards, crossword puzzles, word jumbles, matching segments, and a beat the clock game.)
Topic Tackler segments include videos that attempt to link theory to practice. Other features include a PowerPoint slide presentation and practice exercises.
Concepts are presented progressively building on prior concepts and demonstrating relationships among them.
Questions at the end of the module do ask for a demonstration of higher level thinking skills.
>Corporate Financial Analysis (Topic4) appears to be very efficient and students will learn much in a short time. |
| Concerns: |
Most of the assessments throughout the sample are based on the lowest level of Bloom’s taxonomy with little reference to even addressing understanding or application of concepts. |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
| Rating: |
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| Strengths: |
Outstanding site in term of design quality. Graphics are terrific. Layout and design are visually appealing and engaging.
Excellent incorporation of interactive features. Rolling the mouse over key terms displays definitions. On charts, rolling the mouse over a graphic displays other relevant content.
Excellent sound quality.
Font can be increased to accommodate users' needs.
Link to a glossary of terms is included as well.
A table of contents in the left frame enables users to keep their place.
Navigation is excellent with one exception noted below. |
| Concerns: |
To return from a practice exercise, one has to select File --> close tab in Firefox or users will exit the system. |
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