Abstract

A type of active learning advocated by many is actually learning outside the classroom in the form of student consulting projects. This learning through experience is often referred to as experiential learning. Many undergraduate accounting students never have the opportunity to obtain real accounting experience prior to graduation. A professor at a four-year state college implemented changes in the Accounting Information Systems course to give students the opportunity to provide consulting services to a small business. The project gives students an opportunity to apply their accounting knowledge and QuickBooks skills while gaining experience in interviewing a client, gathering the needed information to record transactions, preparing financial statements and providing internal control and other operating recommendations to a small business. Improvements were implemented in the second year of the project based on difficulties encountered in the first year. Students were energized by the project and immediately recognized it would be valuable. The project is win-win; students receive an enriched learning experience and clients receive accounting services that they may be otherwise unable to afford.