Designing hybrid and online capstone experiences for accounting students

Abstract

In this paper, we share insights from our experience of harnessing technologies to innovatively design a capstone experience for large cohorts of accounting students in hybrid and online environments, informed by insights from key stakeholder consultations and relevant research. To support scaffolded development of professional skills and identity in a short span of eleven weeks, we designed a coherent suite of experiential learning and assessment activities based on contemporary events, an Enterprise Resource Planning business simulation, employability skills training and authentic case studies. Consistently high student evaluations of this unit suggest that our students find this experience valuable. Student responses to the Graduate Attribute Scale in the Graduate Outcomes Survey have shown improvement following the introduction of the capstone unit.