Peer Review

The Fund Identification Challenge

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Dec 5, 2022 by Business

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This is a PowerPoint presentation slide-set with instructions provided, organized as a game to test students’ ability to identify funds used in State and Local governmental accounting.

Knowing the fund structure for state and local governments is a key concept students must master early in their study of governmental accounting. In addition, students must be able to identify which fund would be used to account for various activities in which a government engages. This PowerPoint game is a drill and practice/review activity fashioned after the popular TV game show, Hollywood Squares. The celebrities in the Fund Identification Challenge are past Presidents of the United States. The Presidents have responded to a question, and the game participants either agree or disagree with the response to earn the square. The 27 real-world examples found in the game were derived by examining the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR) of various cities.

Type of Material:

Game-Based Assessment Activity

Assignment

Recommended Uses:

The Fund Identification Challenge is an informal assessment activity that can be implemented after students have studied the fund accounting structure used by state and local governments. The game can be played in class by having students divide into two teams with the instructor serving as the moderator. After each scenario is covered, the instructor should review the purpose of the fund, explain why it would be used, and answer questions. In the online environment, the game can be played with the instructor sharing the screen or presenting the PowerPoint slides to on-line participants. The game can also be played individually by students outside of class time, however, the answers would be visible to them if not controlled by the instructor.

Technical Requirements:

Microsoft PowerPoint, version 2007 or higher. For in-class or on-line presentation, need ability to broadcast/present PowerPoint slides.

Internet Browser, Media Video Player

Identify Major Learning Goals:

As a result of completing this activity, students should be able to assess how well they know the fund accounting structure used by state and local governments, and whether they can identify the fund that would be used to account for a specific activity by a government.

To provide auditing educators/students with an entertaining way to learn Governmental Accounting concepts in order to stimulate discussion and to develop related cognitive skills

Target Student Population:

Business, Accounting, Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting, Undergraduate

College Lower Division, College Upper Division

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Prior to playing The Fund Identification Challenge, students should have learned the fund accounting fund structure used by state and local governments. In addition, they should know the purpose of each fund and the circumstances that indicate when it would be used.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Clear instructions are provided which guide the instructor on how to present the game in a classroom or on-line setting
Excellent drill to reinforce a core concept in governmental accounting, which can be challenging for students in a first year class
Examples used in the game scenario are from real financial reports of local governments
Game can be used in classroom setting, on-line or assigned as individual self-study, though most effective if presented with groups competing just like the game show

Concerns:

Game should only be presented/assigned after students have studied the basics of the State and local government fund accounting model, best if assigned alongside a textbook chapter covering fund accounting so students will have some context and overview before trying an assessment
Instructors could incorporate a recap on the game results as a review, to reinforce key concepts and fund definitions

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Learning objectives and prerequisite knowledge are identified in the instructions document, made available via download with the PowerPoint slides
Assessment does help to reinforce the concept of fund identification, but students should be exposed to the basics before attempting the game scenario
Students will enjoy the game-based learning activity, and can learn a lot in a very short period of time
Can be used to measure student learning outcomes, in team or individual setting
Highly effective learning tool that will encourage active learning and student participation

Concerns:

Recommended for use alongside a textbook covering the basics of State and local government accounting and fund identification
The game is most effective as the ‘assessment’ portion of a learning activity, to be implemented after students have learned basic fund type names and definitions, including the relationship between funds

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Fund Identification Challenge is an interactive assessment tool that is very easy to use and highly engaging
Students will appreciate the high quality design and visual appeal, using past U.S. President’s adds personality and allows students who may be shy or reluctant to respond more confidence- they are ‘grading’ the President in the game scenario, not answering themselves
The game scenario is as simple as Tic-Tac-Toe, using the Hollywood Squares format; most effective if the instructor serves as the game moderator
Because the game is simply a set of PowerPoint slides, it can be used offline, without an internet connection, or even on mobile devices that can run PowerPoint

Concerns:

Instructors should be aware if they share the PowerPoint slides with the students, or send as an attachment, the students will have the answers to the challenge questions; so best if the instructor moderates the presentation and controls the PowerPoint slides.

Other Issues and Comments:: A creative, engaging game-based assessment tool. A lot of fun to play, as well as being very effective in helping students learn State and local government fund identification.
Creative Commons: