Peer Review

Accounting Software Choices

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Feb 27, 2010 by Business

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This nine minute YouTube presentation provides a very brief survey of the basic features of three accounting software packages. The author discusses: Quickbooks, Peachtree Accounting, and Microsoft Office Accounting (not available after 11/16/2009). A brief discussion is also given for Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics (now Microsoft Dynamics), a middle market accounting / ERP software product. In addition, the presentation includes a very brief overview of McGraw-Hill practice sets that are available for these packages.
Type of Material:: Lecture/presentation
Recommended Uses:: Anyone who needs a very basic overview of these four software packages. Faculty interested in McGraw-Hill accounting software based practice sets.
Technical Requirements:: Requires a video player. Browser(Mozilla Firefox 3.0.17. Internet connection.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: To describe the basic features of Quickbooks, Peachtree Accounting, Microsoft Office Accounting, and Microsoft Dynamics.
Target Student Population:: College Upper Division, Graduate School, Faculty, Professional
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Basic computer literacy. Possibly accounting information systems or an interest in accounting software.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

This clear and concise presentation includes useful points, such as internal control features and ease of use in order to compare the products described. In addition the author provides information in order to access each of the text books available. For the products described, information is accurate and relevant. The video is self-contained and does not require an assignment or context for viewers to grasp the content.

Concerns:

Since the video is demonstrating the author’s texts, the discussion does not include a comparison of ERP products.
The basis for the lower quality of content rating is due to the issue of timeliness. Microsoft Office Accounting was abandoned after 11/16/2009. Also the cited version for Quickbooks is 2008.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The video is a good overview which indicates that learning the software need not be overwhelming. In a few short minutes it educates students, potential professors, and business professionals who have this need. For an introduction to the software for evaluation purposes, the amount of information seems sufficient.

Concerns:

Due to the inherent nature of the material, it will become dated quickly. However it is likely that updates of the video will be provided as time passes.
The overview is so brief that other than becoming aware of the entry level accounting software available, it would be difficult to design assignments from the presentation.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Incredibly easy to use in that viers just click and watch.
The video is engaging as the presenter uses appropriate inflection and humor to keep it interesting. The presenter has an enthusiastic voice, that is at an appropriate tempo and sets a positive tone overall for the listener.
Good visual appeal. Intersperses pictures with the PowerPoint slides.
The viewer has the option to submit comments related to the material, also to stop and replay parts.

Concerns:

Every so often, the presenter stumbles in her presentation, making it seem forced at times.
Many of the slides are simply a white background with black text.

Other Issues and Comments:: The availability of this video is a service to the accounting education profession. Professor Crossen's sheer enthusiasm and positive nature comes through in a beneficial way. Her videos would be particularly useful for anyone trying to make a decision on which products to use without spending too much time on this task.
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