New paradigms in the teaching and learning of accounting: Use of educational blogs for reflective thinking

To meet the demands and expectations of increasing global competition, contemporary accountants require a range of generic skills such as analytical and problem-solving skills, personal and interpersonal communication skills, management, negotiation and organisational skills, together with the ability to apply these skills in a range of unique situations. 21 st century technology is needed in teaching, learning and applying these skills in a contemporary environment is becoming imperative. Teaching and learning strategies should move away from procedural tasks and memorising professional standards towards more conceptual and analytical teaching and learning. Significant technological innovations, including the Internet, provide most effective communication tools that have gained increasing popularity. This paper primarily focuses on educational blogs as an engagement and reflective tool for accounting students and how they can improve educational outcomes for accounting students. The pedagogical importance of student engagement and of educational technologies in teaching and learning are discussed. Educational blogs and how they can be used as a reflective assessment tool in accounting education are then discussed, Finally the role of educational blogs in accounting education is illustrated then evaluated.