Power to business professors: Automatic grading of problem-solving tasks in a spreadsheet

Bernt Arne Bertheussen

Journal of Accounting Education, 2014, vol. 32, issue 1, 76-87

Abstract: This paper presents an innovative approach, based on Excel files and a detailed implementation guide, that allows a professor with proficient spreadsheet skills to develop individualized problem-solving tasks for assignments and examinations that test students on cognitive thinking processes beyond memorizing and drilling. The professor accomplishes this goal by requiring the students to model a business problem-solving task in a worksheet environment. Each student’s work is marked automatically by a generic “plug and play” Visual Basic for Application (VBA) algorithm. The scores and feedback provided are tailored to each individual student and address not only the problem-solving outcome but also the problem-solving process. The learning objective discussed in this work is implemented at a Norwegian university business school.

Keywords: Automatic grading; Problem-solving tasks; Spreadsheet; Summative assessment; Formative assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:joaced:v:32:y:2014:i:1:p:76-87

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccedu.2014.01.002

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