Debits, Credits, and Curiosity: Fostering Engagement in Introductory Financial Accounting

ABSTRACT Looking for ways to make introductory financial accounting courses more engaging? Look no further! The faculty have outlined the course redesign process and options for incorporating small but impactful changes to existing courses. Increasing engagement in accounting principles courses is an important component of recruiting accounting majors, growing the accounting pipeline, and increasing the number of accounting professionals. By incorporating activities such as guest speakers, gamification, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, free online resources, engagement tools, small prizes, and student support, the faculty have transformed the introductory accounting classrooms into fun and lively environments. Instructors share games using ChatGPT, new methods to deliver existing materials, and recommendations for connecting with professional partners to support these changes. The following outlines the redesign process, shares resources, and provides tips and tricks for faculty interested in updating or modifying introductory financial accounting courses to engage students and increase interest in the accounting profession. JEL Classifications: M41; M49.