Hints for Assigning and Managing
the Systems Understanding Aid Project

      By Professor Kate Mooney - St. Cloud State University
1.    Go through one or two transactions in class. In this class period I also CLEARLY identify which transaction set to use (Transactions List A or B) and clarify my priorities in grading. I walk them through the flowchart process for a transaction.
2. Do not answer questions via email or in the office. Instead, use the Discussion tool in a learning platform, like Blackboard or Desire2Learn, to answer questions. Establish logical forums that categorize questions. Teach students how to post in the correct Forum with meaningful subject lines. The Forums that have worked for me are:
     a. Transaction by date
     b. Adjusting entries
     c. Trial balance and worksheet questions
     d. Other
This serves two purposes. One, you only have to answer a question once, not 20 times. And, two, students can learn to search for answers and learn from each other.
3. Use the grading sheet to simplify grading. This sheet is an example and can be adjusted for your priorities. On the due date, I have students bring the packet to class and I hand out the sheet. The student then enters the "answer" from his or her packet and puts the identified documents in order in the front of the packet. I warn them that transferring numbers incorrectly is the same as a wrong answer.
4. I have a grad assistant grade the sheets against the "correct" answers I've prepared.
5. Obviously, some students can't transfer from the packet to the sheet and lose points, so the instructor needs to be prepared for that problem. I don't give in on it, but I strongly warn them when they are filling out the form to be careful.


SUA GRADING SHEET



Printable PDF version of Grading Sheet available HERE

SUA Grading Sheet

____________________ (class, TERM, YEAR)

 

                                                                                                      

Name   ______________________________   Section__________

 

Document

What

Answer

Pts

Score

Balance Sheet

Total 2009 current assets

 

2

 

 

Total 2009 Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

2

 

 

Total 2008 Assets

 

2

 

Income Statement

Gross Margin

 

2

 

 

Operating Income

 

2

 

 

Ending Retained Earnings

 

2

 

Statement of Cash Flows

Cash Provided (used) by Investing Activities

 

2

 

 

Cash Provided (used) by Financing Activities

 

2

 

 

Net Change in Cash

 

2

 

Aged Accounts Receivable Schedule

Total Due

 

2

 

Accounts Payable Schedule

Total Payable

 

2

 

Fixed Asset Schedule

Total Book Value

 

2

 

Sales Journal

Total debit to accounts receivable

 

2

 

Cash Receipts Journal

Total credit to sales

 

2

 

Purchases Journal

Total debit to Purchases

 

2

 

Cash Disbursements Journal

Total credit to cash

 

2

 

Payroll Journal

Total net pay

 

2

 

Put the following documents in this order in front of all the tabs:

     Income statement—must have heading for the year 2009

 

 

2

 

     Balance sheet—must be classified and comparative

 

2

 

     Statement of cash flows—must have non-cash activity

 

2

 

     Journal book—closing entries recorded

 

2

 

     Ledger book—posting of closing entries

 

2

 

Velocity Sporting Goods Invoice #34719 plus the attached documents—must have amount received changed and amount due changed

 

2

 

Credit Memo # 42 plus the attached documents—must have three documents: credit memo, request to return, receiving report

 

2

 

     Bank Reconciliation

 

2

 

                        Total

 

50