Accounting Game

Learning about accounting for the first time can be scary. Accounting people seem to speak a completely different language. In order to talk tot them you have to learn that language too. But where do you begin? Just like learning a foreign language, you begin with vocabulary — the first step of becoming fluent.

“Accounting is a language, a means of communicating among all segments of the business community….If you don’t speak the language of accounting or feel intuitively comfortable with the accounting model, you will be at a severe disadvantage in the business world” (from Thomas Ittleson, Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 1998).

Due to technical difficulties which I am still sorting out, the games are not presented in an integrated format. Instead, a screenshot of the opening interface and then each game is presented separately.

The Accounting Game

The game begins with the “Wall of Words” interface which is intended to elicit a visceral reaction of apprehension, some confusion, perhaps even surprise at the color and movement of the words onto the screen. Learners may initially feel overwhelmed with choice, not exactly certain where to begin. But at some point, they have to make a choice and engage, by clicking on one of the words on the screen.

Below is the screenshot of the opening screen. When fully functional, it tracks the number of completed “terms” and gives the total points accumulated during the games.

Screenshot of Opening Screen