Field Trips and Guest Speakers
Teaching accounting courses can be tough, yes I know not the most exciting subject. Well I think it is! I plan several field trips and guest speakers. Prior to teaching I was in the field working for many years, so I have a pull of guest speakers. I also recommend joining networking groups and local chambers of Commerce to pull guest speakers and possible field trips. I take my students on two different field trips per year. One I take to a local amusement park, where they learn about customer service, I stress that accountants provide a great deal of customer service and they should understand how this works. They spend two hours with customer service department, getting a good bit of information; of course going to the park afterwards is a highlight. I then use those examples in lectures throughout that term. I take another group to a plant where they build air condition units for cruise ships and Navy ships. They can see when we talk about labor cost, WIP, overhead they can see it live as I would say instead of a text book. Guest speakers, I bring in people who have not only knowledge in the field but can tell great stories, showing the students that there are challenges however you can really enjoy your job and have some fun too.
I like taking my class on field trips too and guest speakers are great to have because they provide "real" life experiences. However, we find it difficult to find places that we can on field trips to.
Hi Brian!
I love to take my students on field trips so they can experience their job in action. It also adds motivation/inspiration during times when the students need a "shot in the arm" toward their carrer goals. Guest speakers are fun too, so the students can see and hear someone in the field they aspire toward. It helps them to listen and visualize themselves working into that particular field.
