A Note on Teaching the Effective Interest Method Related Problems in Accounting

This note presents a method of teaching accounting problems involving the use of the effective interest method such as bonds, notes, capital leases, and installment sales. The method is conceptually sound and simpler than the traditional method found in current textbooks and stimulates student interest by focusing on the economics of the transaction and relating it to real-life examples.

To assess its pedagogical efficacy, the method was tested in the introductory and intermediate accounting classes. In both courses, the results indicate that students' test scores are significantly higher under the new method than the traditional method. It is hoped that this evidence of the superiority of the new method in a classroom environment will spur its adoption by instructors and textbook writers.