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Broadening Your Perspective
Technology Opportunities
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To observe that technology (including the Internet) has changed the way businesses do business is the understatement of the decade – perhaps the century.  Many believe much, much more change is inevitable.  Prospective employers are expecting and demanding that students be comfortable with and proficient in the use of computers as tools for acquiring and analyzing information for decision making.

During this semester, students in this course have the opportunity to use technology 1) to solve regular homework assignments on the computer, 2) to gain proficiency by practicing other accounting problems, 3) to  “broaden their perspective” of business resources available on the Internet (and receive bonus points) by completing assignments from textbook.

Course Web Site and Twitter

The web site which provides additional information for this course can be accessed through the following link:  http://oruaccounting.com   This site provides links to the course syllabus, professors’ information, schedule of classes and labs, solutions to recommended questions and exercises from the textbook, and solutions to quizzes given in class.  These can be valuable resources for mastering the material in the course.

In addition, students may receive additional communications about the course by “following” on Twitter:  ORUAccounting   Reminders of upcoming events, review sessions, and other information may be shared at appropriate times.

The class web page and Twitter are ways in which the instructors can communicate with students when class is not in session.  Check them often for updated information pertaining to the class.

Desire 2 Learn

Many courses at ORU use a course management system called Desire 2 Learn nicknamed “D2L.”  All students enrolled in the accounting course this semester will have access to D2L at the following site:  http://d2l.oru.edu   Students will be expected to provide their “Z” number in order to log in.

Additional resources such as publisher’s PowerPoint presentations and self-study quizzes are available for additional practice and would be valuable in mastering the course content.

Students desiring additional instruction and assistance beyond that available in class, in labs, and from the instructors might want to consider online tutoring available through D2L at a site called Smarthinking.  A link is provided on the D2L site; there is no additional cost to the student and knowledgeable individuals are available to address individual questions for a good portion of each day.

Homework for the course is expected to be prepared on “working papers.”  These working papers will be available for download from the D2L site as Excel files.  Students can 1) print only the necessary pages and solve the homework “by hand,” OR 2) solve the assignment on the computer using the Excel spreadsheets.  Completed assignments 1) can be printed and submitted in class, OR 2) can be submitted electronically through the D2L “drop box” (saving cost of paper and ink).

Broadening Your Perspective(BYP) (bonus points)

In an effort to broaden students’ perspectives of business and accounting in the “real world,” at the conclusion of each chapter of the textbook, the authors have provided a short Internet assignment.    Some of the material discovered in these assignments may prove to be beneficial in the future in upper division business classes and eventually in the work environment.

One (1) “bonus” point could be awarded for each of the assignments students choose to complete during the semester for a total of ten (10) points possible.  In order to receive credit, students much submit quality work in a timely fashion.  The BYP assignments are due by 9 a.m. on the Monday following the week in which the topic has been covered in class.  Please refer to the course syllabus for specific due dates.

Students must complete and submit the BYP assignments via e-mail as follows:

  1. Locate the BYP assignment at the end of the chapter in the textbook.
  2. Read and follow the instructions in the textbook.
  3. Locate the appropriate site on the Internet.
  4. Prepare an e-mail document for your response.
  5. In the “SUBJECT:” area of the e-mail message, indicate the number of the BYP being submitted as well as your discussion section, row, and seat number (DD-R-SS).  Example: SUBJECT: BYP 3-4 for 04-2-05 (where 3-4 is the number of the problem from the text for the student in section four who sits on row two in seat five)
  6. In the body of the e-mail message, TYPE YOUR NAME, DISCUSSION ROW AND SEAT NUMBER, AND E-MAIL ADDRESS.  Type the question from the textbook followed by your response.  Responses should be in complete sentences, well written, and free of misspelled words.  Responses should NOT be copied and pasted from the web site, but rather paraphrased in the student’s own words.  For problems with more than one question, type the next question from the text, followed by your response, etc.  Double space between each question and response.
  7. The completed assignment should be sent to the following e-mail address:  prinacct@oru.edu
  8. Students are encouraged to send a copy of the assignment to their own personal e-mail address as evidence the assignment was submitted on time.
  9. The assignments are (generally) due by 9 a.m. on Monday as indicated in the syllabus.  Remember that the time and date the message was sent will automatically be indicated on the e-mail message.
  10. Students are reminded that technical difficulties might be encountered and, therefore, discouraged from waiting until the last minute to prepare and submit the assignments.
  11. An e-mail response will be sent to the return address from which the e-mail assignment was received.  The response will indicate whether the bonus point was awarded.  No other communication will be made to inform the student of the status of the assignment.
Some of the sites indicated in the textbook have become stale and no longer work.  Unfortunately no credit can be given for those assignments.

Students who need assistance are encouraged to contact Mr. Gregg (495-6561 or rgregg@oru.edu) or Mr. Elliott (495-7114 or belliott@oru.edu).

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