ACCA e-assessment? ARE YOU READY?

Fundamental papers	e-assessment starts from
F1 to F3	Feb 2014
F4	Sept 2014
F5 to F9	Dec 2014

 From as early as Feb 2014, ACCA will roll out the e-assessment to replace the traditional handwritten answer scripts which had been practised for more than a century. This will certainly be a very forward looking move that could catapult ACCA to probably be the first among the pack as pioneer of e-assessment.

However, much to the disappointment of us lecturers the e-assessment stops at the Fundamental Level papers only while the Professional Level papers are spared from such e-assessment. As such, the traditional handwritten assessment still prevails for Professional papers. Thus, the race for e-assessment shall continue for whichever professional bodies bold enough to launch their “FULL e-assessment” and claim the title for being the first.

Perhaps, a lot of factors are considered by ACCA before launching the FULL e-assessment. As I can see, a great majority of students attempting the Professional Level papers are Accounting Degree holders exempted from all and if not majority of the Fundamental papers. Would it be riskier to assess using handwriting or computer? I personally think they (students) prefer and are ready to accept e-assessment as compared to handwriting. Hearing complaints such as my fingers ached after writing non-stop for the 3 hours is something of a norm for students.

Perception of e-assessment differs among students and lecturers alike. Well to clarify it is not limited to MCQs and fill in the blanks. Generally, the exam format contains 3 sections:
1. Objective Testing (MCQs)
2. Multi Task Questions
3. Long Form Questions (not mentioned much in the seminar)

Some of the Multi Task Questions includes:

1. Select and type your comment

Here, the student will select the clue words from the case study given and a two column table will appear with the clue word selected appearing on the left column while the right column remains empty for student to input the answer based on the clue words selected. This is exactly the same as my "extract and comment method" used in class, except that this one is made computerised while mine is manual. Wish I could get hold of the software for this!

An example (the underlined words are selected):

Seltec has decided to enter the retail market and has recently purchased two well-known brand names in the edible oil industry. One of the brand names has been in existence for many years and has a good reputation for quality.

Words selected	Comments (For student to type in their answer)
Purchased	Qualify as separately acquired intangible assets. Thus, purchased cost is available.
Brand names	Non-physical substance which qualifies as intangible assets under IAS 38 Intangible Assets

2. "Drop down" menu answer

A building is an	A. Asset
	B. Liability
	C. Equity
	D. Income
	E. Expense

3. Fill in the blanks

Spread sheets will feature prominently for this format type of question and could include filling in more than one blank. Answer is to be filled in the yellow box.

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Cost	110,000
2	Residual value	10,000
3	Useful life	5 years
4
5	Depreciation	=(B1-B2)/B3
6
7

  
My thoughts on the format of Multi Task Questions are marvellous as being someone with poor handwriting like myself, e-assessment really takes away the punishment for illegible handwriting which appears in almost all examiners’ report every sitting.

Another plus point brought up was that unlike the present examination sessions in June and December, the coming sessions shall be increased to FOUR times a year i.e. September, December, March and June exams. This is indeed fantastic as I also raised this up when asked to participate in the workshop for e-assessment sometime in 2012 last year. Having examinations conducted every quarterly greatly reduced the waiting time for resit students.

However, to a certain extent I also regretted suggesting this as I find it very uncomfortable to conduct lectures for two months and let the student attempt the exam in the third month. I felt that the knowledge learned has not sunk in yet in those three months. It is really a rush for a fresh student on the first attempt of the paper. So I believe I would still stick to my usual five months lecture and revision while exam on the sixth month.

What does e-assessment mean to Lecturers?

It means we lecturers have to change the way we lecture. Overhead projectors and even visualizers would find it’s place in the dark storeroom as notebook with projectors would be a common sight in all lecture halls and classrooms.

As spread sheet would be one of the formats of a question, there is no other way to lecture other than to just show students how to fill in the blanks in the spread sheet on the screen. In fact, the original reason for e-assessment introduction was to accommodate the basic computer skills needed especially on spread sheet in the student assessment.

It is indeed ideal if every student’s table is equipped with power socket for their own personal notebook. Some hands-on is always necessary for any software related training. Otherwise, students can’t remember the steps.

During the talk, I was expecting to have some samples of questions for practise but was rather disappointed when no sample was available, not even in the ACCA website. The practise questions would be available at a much later date and needs to be purchased separately.

The only sad news that I have would be for some of my friends and fellow lecturers who may have to struggle learning spread sheet now or risk losing their jobs. I hope they can overcome this. Gambateh!!!

Resisting changes or embracing changes? You decide... is there much choice.

For further information on individual papers, click
http://www.accaglobal.com/en/learning-provider/Tuition-providers/learning-providers-conferences/global-feb-2013.html
 

So, what does e-assessment mean to you?

ACCA is listening and adapting …

I have just attended the ACCA Learning Partners’ Conference and felt extremely delighted that ACCA has taken the bold step to move forward in line with the creation and demand of the new generation Accountants.

The conference was well organised and took on a forum where 4 speakers were invited on stage to discuss on the topic of “e-professional”. It has been long known that technologies have indeed changed our lifestyles and the way we work. ACCA has taken the initiative by first introducing e-Assessment into the exam. The ultimate goal is to produce ACCA graduates who are “work ready” once they graduated. The present ACCA exam tackles only understanding of principles and theories and assessment takes the form of mostly handwritten exams.

E-assessment means that the conventional handwriting of answers being scrapped entirely; replaced by typing of answers using keyboard. Not much of the method for e-assessment was disclosed and the e-assessment exam format is kept extremely classified. All I can say is that it is not restricted to MCQs, you could probably get fill in the blanks, and anything is possible even perhaps 3D gaming style of questioning (my own opinion since computer games are so popular nowadays) and we just have to wait anxiously for the final announcement by ACCA.

ACCA Examination Board intends to bring the assessment of work place skills directly to the exam hall, thereby producing students who are definitely in great demand by employers worldwide and most importantly “e-work ready”. Picture this, an ACCA graduate without any working experience would be ever ready to perform without much supervision and without further on the job training and can immediately handle spreadsheet formulas, SAP, Oracle, etc. I remember when I was still studying for ACCA, I haven’t heard of SAP or even Oracle and I wasn’t very fortunate as the companies I worked for couldn’t afford such powerful softwares.

During the conference, I have the opportunity to speak to the representatives of one speaker from Malaysia Practise Enterprise Centre (MyPEC) and they referred me to their website www.malaysiapec.com on virtual training ground for employees that mimic a real organisation where scenarios could be programmed into the simulation and participants are trained just like where pilots are trained in a flight simulator.

With such revolutionary changes, I would envisioned that in the near future every student would be bringing their own notebook to lectures, the only thing I worry is the distraction of their Facebook account, lol.

What does the future hold for the new generation of ACCA graduates? Please leave a comment as I believe ACCA would definitely love to hear from the Generation Y ACCA students. I would forward your comments to ACCA office (Please be considerate with your comments and avoid making offensive statement)

TARC Homecoming

Those were the days, the good old college days when I was still a TARCIAN (name given for TAR College student); when I first set foot at TARC, things were so much different then as compared to what TARC is now. The old “Yum Yum Park” (name given to what used to be student couple’s dating spot; “Yum Yum” refers to the aroma smell of nearby garbage dumping ground) has given way to the concrete building block that housed the modern “Papa Rich restaurant” and a well-equipped library.

Architectural building blocks mushroomed everywhere in the college compound and what used to be landscaped trees and grasses have transformed into a town-like community of students. Unlike during our olden days where motorbikes used to dominate the college roads, now, cars are the chief transportation used. I couldn’t help but felt “aged” and perhaps a little nonconforming (a bit like what Captain America felt after waking up 70 years later, LOL).

Anyway, some things remained the same. Ms Christine, from SBS admin still looks the same after some 12 years or so, same goes to Ms Say, my former lecturer. How come nobody aged after more than a decade? Guess everyone discovered the fountain of youth here working @ TARC.

Well, my first class started today and during the first two hours of lecture, I am still astounded by the development at TARC. Don’t know why but I got hanged back; at a loss of words at times and guess, I still haven’t got the hang of things just yet. It was difficult to get a paradigm shift from being student before to being a lecturer now. And worst of all, first lecture is on perhaps the most boring of all topics in Financial Reporting … The Conceptual Framework.

But I did noticed, students were paying full attention during the lecture. Thunderous applause came when I ended the lecture 5 minutes earlier. Surprise! Surprise! I thought that ending the class early should be the most unpopular act by any lecturer. But this is extraordinary!!! Well, I figured the changeover of the Batch A students to Batch B students should possibly need about 5 minutes, that is why I ended earlier. Anyway, the Batch B students are lesser and not as crowded. My miscalculation indeedL!

After the class ended, I headed back to the car park and I thought to myself, “One of the reasons I chose to lecture is because I still yearn for my good old college days. Guess, I could never get over them and that is why I am still coming back to TARC”.

Getting My Life Back

Thanks a billion and over the last few days, I have received overwhelming support FB messages, smses, calls and compliments from my former students informing me of their passes and asking me not to give up lecturing. Even Accountants and students whom I didn’t know said they heard many good things about me. It greatly lifted my spirit and I think the truth has finally prevailed. There is too much messages that I can’t reply all of them with my slow typing skills, my deep apologies.

I hope my students won’t condemn other lecturers because as I have always said in my class that all lecturers and their methods are equally good. Everyone has their strength and criticising other lecturers doesn’t make us any better; it just goes to show how insecure and incompetent the person is. I was hurt earlier by such unfounded remarks and I hope no other lecturer should ever take this kind of insult anymore in the future. It is perfectly OK to support our lecturers but don’t step on other lecturers to make our favourite lecturer look good.

I have never expected that this event to turn out so positive for me instead. All my former students stood up for me and they remembered things that I taught them. Most of them told me that they have already become Accountants and that my consolidation method and exam technique helped them to pass. One even still held on to my notes for reference during work. I even received sms from my former student in China trying to console me. Fyi, blogspot.com is not accessible in China and she got the article from another student. Thank you so much for your concern and definitely

That thought was only momentarily when my emotion overpowered me. I shall forever cherish the wonderful moments lecturing you all and it is a great honour being your lecturer.

I have written a few more parts to defend myself but I think they are no longer necessary and I shall not continue to post them any longer. What needs to be said has been said. So for now, I wish to put all these behind me and move forward. There is so much I need to do for my students. Reminds me, I still have a stack of assignments not yet marked. When I was having class last Friday, I asked if anyone read my blog. Some nodded and from their face I knew there is no doubt in my teaching or my method now. We can move on more confidently and I thought to myself that perhaps all this is just a blessing in disguise!

Best regards,

Joe Fang

The Truth Shall Prevail

Well, there are usually only 2 possible reasons that I left Kaplan:

·         “Asked to leave” sounds like being sack, or

·         Resigned

The answer has to be none of the above.

In fact, there could be future ammendment to the rules regarding Accountants in Singapore which is inconvenient for me to mention in this blog. So I can only justify my defence with existing information available.
 

When some lecturers left Kaplan, Andrew and I are invited to assist their team to retain the existing student for the ACCA programme. It was very tough as we are seen as new faces in Singapore. Not many people in Singapore knew us and Kaplan spent quite a lot of money to get us in there i.e. weekly flight tickets, hotels which has been included in our salary. I don’t think they are making much; probably the classes are running at a loss. But they still run it anyway for the sake of the student. At the same time, Kaplan also ran parallel classes conducted by their existing Singapore lecturers.

I tell you it was really enjoyable working parallel with the Singapore lecturers and even though we were lecturing the same paper, we never criticise each other. We share notes, tips and well, just about anything relating to our papers. It is a really an open platform that you could use another lecturer’s note for your lecture, no copyright issue whatsoever.

I hate to brag but my performance there was GOOD. I even managed to produce a Singapore 1^st Prize Winner for P2. Fyi, he told me that Q2 on restructuring was easy and helps him to gain a lot of marks. Guess my consolidation method helps and luckily, I managed to attach a previous Paper 3.6 (Old paper of P2) past year question in my revision kit last minute and he also referred to the Kaplan revision kit to revise. He told me that he only seriously started revising right after my revision class which was conducted during the first week of Nov 2011. The management also complimented me for the excellent passing rate in front of the lecturers. I attached the parting gift that Kaplan management gave me and Andrew on our last day.

 

But the sad moment came; we are not sustainable financially as it takes another 4 years or so to make a name for ourselves (that is if students like us). Moreover, the existing lecturers are already good enough to take over from us. So the management thanked us for our services and no, we were not sacked from Kaplan. We fully understand Kaplan’s situation and again it is not convenient to explain further.

Like what my student said in the forum, “It was a sad story”. I almost cried when I told my F7 students there but I still managed to hold my tears till the class ends. I felt that I have disappointed them when their seniors recommended me but I can’t take them through P2. They have already gotten used to my consolidation method. The most I could do was to give all of them my P2 written notes and materials to help them of which I did last term. They wanted me to stay and teach them but I just can’t. My sms and email can confirm this!

 

 

About two weeks ago, Kaplan asked if I could spare some time for P2 Jan 2013 Intake because my F7 students are already familiar with my consolidation method. The existing lecturer is very good just that our methods are different and it is difficult for students to relearn another method. It wasn’t easy but I couldn’t accept the offer because I am extremely tired travelling to Singapore. I felt sick couple of times during the two semesters. Believe me! It is easier to say yes than no. I had to let the offer pass and the saying “No, I can’t” was difficult that I had to mumble it out.

I always keep any communication with colleges private however, in this case, I apologise to Kaplan management that I have to reveal the offer merely to counter the notorious claim by others. Kaplan management has been extremely good to me during my two semesters with them. I wish them to know that it was very difficult for me when I said I can’t accept the offer.

Come to think of it, I am surprised that the student mentioned I was asked to leave and made it sound like I have been sacked. Whoever told the student that information must be someone the student trusted very much; resulting in him/her making public such erroneous claim. I believe the student has an acquaintance who is very familiar with Singapore which makes me suspect that the information must have been obtained from a Malaysian lecturer lecturing in Singapore.

I hope my suspicion is wrong because I know all of them as my good friends even though we taught at different colleges in KL. I just hope they won’t simply twist the facts. I always hold on to the belief that lecturers should act professionally and ethically. Anyway, I give them the benefit of doubt here; everyone is innocent until proven guilty!!! Rest assured! I also won’t pursue further on this as I prefer to be ignorant than to find out who it is. I know it is going to hurt even more if I found out.

There Is Only One Truth ( Part II )

Read my students' smses, so different from the comment from the forum... I wonder who is telling the truth?

Some students and lecturers told me before that the forum has now been infested by unscrupulous Tuition providers and lecturers saying bad things about other lecturers. This is their way of marketing so that student won’t sign up with the other lecturers. I know that not all Tuition providers and lecturers are that nasty and dirty. At least I hope they aren’t.

I felt that my students should hear the real story and that is why I am writing this article. When I told my wife that I want to defend myself, she advised me not to enter the dark alley (Low Yat Forum) all these people have waiting for many years and the minute you appear, they are sure going to MURDER you. You are in the open (because I would never ever use a dupe account) and they are in the dark. I would stand no chance with them. Why not I just defend from my blog, at least if they leave nasty remark at your blog you can find out who they are.

So that is just what I am going to do. I always believe the truth shall prevail and I am going to answer those comment together with evidence to substantiate my claim.

Watch out for my next posting where I will answer this:

 “Asked to leave Kaplan Singapore”. Is this true? How come I didn’t know that I was sacked? Stay tuned for the next post.