Implementing team-based learning (TBL) in accounting courses

Abstract

ABSTRACTAccounting education has been criticised for ill-equipping graduates for professional employment, with calls for accounting students to acquire a broader range of skills. Working in teams is an important employability skill, yet students generally have negative perceptions of group work. This paper describes a different approach to group work, team-based learning (TBL). Students of introductory accounting courses were organised into permanent strategic teams and worked on multiple team activities. We examined their perceptions of TBL as a key pedagogical component of their learning activities. Compared to a control sample, our findings suggest that the TBL experience improved some attitudes, particularly among quantitatively inclined students. After experiencing TBL, students believed their teamwork abilities had improved, particularly those related to cultural diversity. Students generally believed that their ability in performing the roles of task leader, socio-emotional leader, and information provider improved significantly, as did their preferences for performing the two leadership roles.