TEACHING ACCOUNTING BY TELEVISION.

The scarcity of qualified teachers, which is expected to become more acute in the years ahead-is the basic reason for offering any course by television as opposed to conventional methods. The decision to experiment with the offering of courses by television at Penn State was encouraged by a grant from the Ford Foundation's Funds for the Advancement of Education. A standard, widely-used textbook was employed for all sections of the course. It is felt, however, that any of several recognized elementary accounting texts would have been equally adequate. Although not used to any great extent it is possible to show films, slides, and film strips. Also by the use of a suitable projection device it is possible for the television screen to show the instructor writing on a regular-sized sheet of paper. One disadvantage of teaching by television as opposed to conventional methods is that, under most conditions, the conversation is one way. There can be no discussion or answering of the students questions.