Flexible Learning Large Grant Application
Hugh Soord - OTLF
CBS
H.Soord@curtin.edu.au (Tel: 9266 4903)
Date submitted: 10/23/2008
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance)
The project aims to develop all units within the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance)
double major to a benchmark standard.
The units within this degree involve every school in the Curtin Business School. The first year units in
the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) are the core units all CBS students are required
to complete. Consequently, the project will benefit all schools at CBS. Second and third year units
include a range from other schools, which again means that the whole of CBS is included in the
project.
This project proposes to raise all units to a minimum online benchmark and address issues such as
flexible learning, capacity building, use of flexible learning tools and resources and the quality of the
learning and teaching resources.
The importance of the quality and consistency of online teaching and learning resources, both locally
and at all offshore locations, has been made evident through the AQUA process.
Online units at CBS are usually developed without any formal common benchmark or framework
providing guidance on aesthetics or consistent ways of presenting content and resources within the
Blackboard learning management system (LMS). There is also a lack of direction on what the quality
of teaching and learning strategies and assessment should be. Through a series of reference guides
and workshops a framework is to be established that provides strategic direction for the evaluation of
existing Bachelor of Commerce online units and a guide for developing the new ones.
The framework:
1. Establishes the minimum benchmark learning environment standard.
2. Provides direction on the quality of the student learning experience from the perspective of
preparing the students, the curriculum, and quality assurance.
3. Establishes templates and banners for the learning and teaching resources.
4. Provides capacity building and leadership through workshops and mentoring programs.
5. Defines the standard Blackboard features of all of the CBS’s units.
6. Covers the standard features of Blackboard in terms of expected use.
Insert the study package number(s) and the number of students normally enrolled in the units
concerned:
The first year units encompass ALL first year CBS students (Across all six schools).
Approximately 3000 students enrol in the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance).
The units for this course areFirst year (Semester 1): Economics 100, Management 100, Communications in Business 100,
Accounting 100
First year (Semester 2): Marketing 100, Business Information Systems 100, Business law 100,
Finance Quantitative Techniques 203
Second year (Semester 1): Accounting (Managerial) 201, Accounting (Financial) 250, Law
(Corporation) 224
Law Business (Organisations) 222, Financial Principles 215.
Second year (Semester 2): Taxation 331, Accounting (Systems) 204, Accounting (External Reporting)
260, Finance (Analysis) 206, Mathematical Economics 201.
Third year (Semester 1): Accounting (Auditing) 300, Accounting (Managerial Control) 301, Finance
(Derivative Securities) 312, Finance (Portfolio Management) 301.
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Third year (Semester 2): Accounting (Decision Analysis) 308, Business Capstone 300, Finance
(International) 302, Finance (Corporate) 307.
Provide details of milestones and key dates:
November 2008 - February 2009 complete:
- all First year units (Semester 1 & 2)
- Business Capstone 300
- all Second year Semester 1 units
- all Third year Semester 2 units
February 2009 - April 2009 complete:
- all Second year Semester 2 units
- all Third year Semester 2 units
How will the project improve the quality of teaching and learning in your area?
As the first year units within the Bachelor of Commerce are the core units all students must do at CBS,
they will have a consistent quality learning experience in their first year at Curtin University. As they
progress into their second and third years this will continue. The overall quality of learning and
teaching will be enhanced for both student and academic through the implementation of the
framework.
The School of Accounting has one of the largest number of students enrolled in its courses. Therefore,
this project will offer significant benefit to the School, CBS, Curtin University, academics, and most of
all, students. Through capacity building workshops and mentoring programs a community of
knowledge and a sense of collegiality will be fostered where CBS academics can share their teaching
and learning experiences with others.
How will you share the outcomes of your project/learning with other members of staff?
As mentioned previously, many of the units in the Bachelor of Commerce are from all CBS Schools
other than Accounting. All CBS staff will be exposed to the proposed framework and aspects of
flexible learning and teaching. CBS Schools have already agreed to the need for a consistent
approach to online units and are keen to be involved in the process. Capacity building workshops and
mentoring programs will provide CBS academics with an opportunity to not only share their teaching
and learning experiences, but also to learn from others within their own discipline as well as outside.
Fostering a community of knowledge, building collegiality and leadership are central to the project.
How will this project influence the learning delivery strategy for the remainder of the course?
The project covers all units within the course, which means that a consistent quality approach will be
achieved throughout the entire course and that various delivery strategies could be implemented
where appropriate.
The intention for CBS is to use the approach for this project in all courses across CBS. That is, the
success of this project, particularly in establishing the framework, will spearhead its implementation
within CBS Schools and lead to an improvement in the quality of the learning and teaching experience
students have. Capacity building workshops will also help academics embrace a more flexible
approach to teaching and learning.
Faculty cost centre for fund transfer (if approved)
Approved:
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