Connection • Curiosity • Play

Teresa Thompson

A joyful approach
to teaching.

I’m an accounting professor, author, devoted learner, and enthusiastic sharer of ideas. I believe the best learning happens when there is space for connection, curiosity, and a little play.

Explore My Work Find Teaching Resources

Teresa Thompson smiling while leaning on a stack of accounting textbooks.

Teresa Thompson smiling above a stack of accounting textbooks.

Hello

Welcome!

I love being in the classroom, helping students learn, and sharing what works with fellow teachers.

More About Me

Explore

My Work

I love sharing the work I’ve been up to, my thoughts on the craft of teaching, and the practices that have worked for me over the years. Enjoy!

Articles & Writing

Reflections on connection, play, accessibility, and using OER in the classroom.

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A Classroom in Concert: How to Design a Truly Rockin’ Learning Experience2026 OER is Full of Errors: I’m Okay With It2024 Community in the Classroom2024 The Unexpected Benefits of Play2024 What a Cool Syllabus…But is It Accessible?2023 The Importance of a Good Bedside Manner for ~~Doctors~~ Teachers, Part 12023 The Importance of a Good Bedside Manner for ~~Doctors~~ Teachers, Part 22023

Books & Textbooks

Books I’ve written, co-authored, or am currently working on.

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Lessons in Accounting: Introduction to Financial Accounting

Teresa Thompson · 2025

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

First five chapters available.

Introduction to Financial Accounting

David Annand & Teresa Thompson · 2019

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Canada

New book coming soon!

A book about the craft of teaching, written especially with two-year college faculty in mind.

Podcast & Media

Conversations about joyful teaching, connection, and what happens when we make room for play.

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Joyful Connections Through Intentional Teaching Practices

Teaching in Higher Ed Podcast · Episode 539 · October 10, 2024

Presentations

Selected conference presentations, panels, and workshops on teaching and student engagement.

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Choose Your Own AI Adventure

Presented at Franklin University's AI Digital Retreat - 2026

Tech Tips from a Non-Techie

Conference for Teaching & Learning Accounting (CTLA) Conference · Las Vegas, NV · 2026

Reflections and Best Practices from the AAA/J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook/Deloitte Foundation Prize 2025 Recipients

Presented with Kerry Inger · Conference for Teaching & Learning Accounting (CTLA) Conference · Las Vegas, NV · 2026

Let’s Make an App for That!

Annual Meeting for the American Accounting Association · Las Vegas, NV · 2026

Integrating AI into the Accounting Curriculum

Annual Meeting for the American Accounting Association · Las Vegas, NV · 2026

Keeping Students in the Game

Annual Meeting for the American Accounting Association · Las Vegas, NV · 2026

AI: Practical Support for Accounting Educators

Thompson, T., Tietz, W., & Scott, C. · Panel presentation · American Accounting Association SPARK Virtual Conference · 2026

Keeping Students Engaged in the Introductory Financial Accounting Course: Ideas from the Classroom

Thompson, T., Tietz, W., & Larson, M. · Panel presentation · American Accounting Association weARE Webinar Series on Accounting Research and Education · 2026

Rediscovering Joy In Teaching

American Accounting Association Annual Meeting · Chicago, IL · 2025

Joyful Connections Through Intentional Teaching Practices

Teachers of Accounting at Two Year Colleges (TACTYC) Conference · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

The Unexpected Benefits of Play

Teachers of Accounting at Two Year Colleges (TACTYC) Conference · Indianapolis, IN · 2025

Take what helps

Resources for Educators

I love to learn, I love to teach, and I love to share.

Syllabus - Samples & Resources

My Themed Syllabi

Barbie-Themed Syllabus Pokémon-Themed Syllabus Severance-Themed Syllabus Stranger Things-Themed Syllabus Wicked-Themed Syllabus

Other Syllabi Resources

Accessible Syllabus Template Unconventional Syllabi Collection (UVA)

First page of Barbie-themed Financial Accounting syllabus

First page of Pokémon-themed Financial Accounting syllabus

First page of Severance-themed Financial Accounting syllabus

First page of Stranger Things-themed Financial Accounting syllabus

First page of Wicked-themed Managerial Accounting syllabus

AI for Instructors – Prompts & Policies

AI Prompts for Instructors

My favorite AI prompts to help with my teaching productivity and creativity.

Build a Web App with ChatGPT + Netlify

A prompt you can use or modify to create your own web-based app. See the Debits & Credits app I created with it.

Create Canvas Quizzes with ChatGPT

Instructions for creating quizzes from your course materials and importing them into Canvas.

Build a Live Dashboard with AI

Use AI as your technical guide to turn scattered information, files, and live data into a polished organizational dashboard. Includes my example workflow, starter prompt, and tips for building and troubleshooting one piece at a time.

Download the Guide (PDF)

View & Copy the Starter Prompt

Copy, paste, and customize the [bracketed sections].

I want you to help me build a live organizational dashboard.

I am not an experienced programmer, so act as both my technical guide and coding assistant. Walk me through the project one step at a time rather than giving me everything at once. Explain what I need to do in plain language, provide complete code when code is required, and tell me exactly where to paste it.

MY GOAL: I want to create a private dashboard for my organization that displays useful information from our membership/event-management system. The finished dashboard should be visually polished, easy for nontechnical users to understand, and capable of being embedded in a Google Site.

DATA SOURCE: My organization uses [NAME OF SYSTEM]. It has an API that I would like to use so selected dashboard information updates automatically.

GOOGLE TOOLS AVAILABLE: I can use Google Sheets, Google Apps Script, and Google Sites.

WHAT I WANT THE DASHBOARD TO DISPLAY: [LIST THE INFORMATION YOU WANT TO SEE - for example: event registrations, sponsor counts, membership statistics, important links, announcements, committee information, etc.]

DESIGN: Organization: [NAME] | Primary color: [HEX CODE] | Secondary color: [HEX CODE] | Other design preferences: [DESCRIBE]

IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS:

Keep API credentials, tokens, client secrets, and other sensitive information secure and out of any HTML that users can view.
Tell me when something should be stored in Google Apps Script Properties or another secure location.
Before building the full dashboard, help me test the API connection with a very small request so we know the connection works.
Once the connection works, help me identify the exact API endpoints, event IDs, registration types, or other identifiers needed for the information I want to display.
Build and test one component at a time.
When something doesn't work, help me troubleshoot the error before moving to the next step.
When code changes, give me the complete replacement code rather than assuming I know which lines to modify.
Explain when I need to redeploy the web app and when I can simply update the underlying data.
Ultimately, help me publish the dashboard as a Google Apps Script web app and embed it into Google Sites.

Before we start coding, ask me the questions you need answered about my data source, the information I want displayed, and how I want the dashboard to look. Then recommend the simplest architecture for accomplishing this.

The first prompt didn't build my dashboard. The conversation built my dashboard. A strong starting prompt gives AI useful context and guardrails, but the real work comes from testing, asking follow-up questions, troubleshooting, and refining.

Build a Custom Chatbot

Step-by-step instructions you can adapt for your own course or purpose, based on Teaching Effectively with ChatGPT by Dan Levy and Ángela Pérez Albertos.

AI Policies & Guidance

Sample AI policies and language to help you set expectations for your course.

Sample AI Policies

Browse real AI syllabus policies from instructors across the nation to help as you shape your own.

My AI Course Policy

The AI policy I currently use in my own courses.

AI Open Use

AI use is permitted and encouraged in this course.

Students -and professionals- do their best work when they ethically use the tools available to support learning and productivity. In conversations with accounting firms and hiring managers, one message comes up consistently: AI is becoming an essential part of the accounting profession, and employers value graduates who are familiar with and confident using these tools responsibly.

You are encouraged to use AI to:

Study and review course material
Ask questions about concepts you find confusing
Get alternative explanations for complex topics
Brainstorm ideas or organize your thinking

However, AI should support your learning, not replace it. You should be able to explain, apply, and defend your work in your own words.

It is my responsibility to design authentic assessments that accurately measure your understanding. That is why some projects and the final exam may include an oral Q&A component, where you will discuss your reasoning and demonstrate mastery of the material.

If you ever have questions about appropriate AI use on a specific assignment, please ask.

Correspondence

Early, Early Welcome Email

I send this to students as soon as they enroll in the class—sometimes months before the semester even starts.

Welcome Email

A warm message sent to students before the semester begins, offering key information and tips to help them start off strong.

Early Intervention Email

A message template for supporting students experiencing challenges in the course.

“Send off” Speech

A meaningful way to close any academic term—these are the parting words that legendary Harvard professor Dan Levy shares with each of his classes, leaving a lasting impression.

Projects (Financial Accounting)

Accounting Cycle

Students review the entire accounting cycle with this small business started by a family friend.

Uncollectible Accounts & Ratios

Students review the financials of a small business that is too accommodating with extending direct credit to its customers.

Merchandise & Uncollectible Accounts

Students view a small business struggling with rising inventory costs and a big box competitor moving in down the street (based on real events).

Creative Project

Students flex their creative muscles and show their understanding of accounting in the manner they choose. Past submissions have included video podcasts, computer games, romantasy novels, comic books, board games, and more.

Projects (Managerial Accounting)

Project I – CVP

Students use cost-volume-profit analysis to help a local business determine the best use of available space while also considering important qualitative factors.

Project II – Job Order

Students help a business use job-order costing to accurately track the cost of creating custom-made Star Trek-themed cat scratching posts (based on real events).

Game Templates

Jeopardy Template

A free template you can use to create a Jeopardy-style review game for just about any topic.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Template

A reusable game template illustrated with Statement of Cash Flows questions.

Family Feud Template

One of my favorite classroom games—I even bring two call bells for the competing “families.”

Class Activities

Escape Room Puzzle

Students work together to solve for the correct answers based on the clues provided. This handout is based on a managerial accounting topic: absorption and variable costing methods.

Slide & certificate Solution file

“Strands” Puzzle

Borrowed from the New York Times Strands puzzle—a word search with a twist—this exercise helps students review key terms for the Plant Assets chapter. I normally have them work on it before we start the chapter.

Student Resources

Resume Template

This is the résumé template recommended by the Kelley School of Business for its undergraduate business students.

Study Tips

Study strategies from the authors of Make It Stick, which debunks common but ineffective habits like rereading and cramming and highlights research-backed approaches that actually improve learning. A social media–style square is also included for easy sharing in your class LMS.

8-BitAccounting.com

Free and fun accounting games to help you review key concepts while having a blast!

My Recommendations

Things I read, listen to, return to, and recommend to fellow educators.

Read

James Lang’s Substack

Explore the insights of a leading voice in student learning strategies for higher education.

J.D. Schramm’s Substack

Author of Communicate with Mastery, J.D. posts frequently about how to communicate simply and effectively—relevant tips for any professional looking to elevate their game.

Duarte Blog

A woman-owned company focused on transformative communication through effective presentations and storytelling.

Faculty Focus Magazine

Practical, research-informed insights for college educators from college educators.

Chronicle of Higher Education

A leading news source for colleges and universities, offering reporting, analysis, and commentary on academic life, policy, teaching, and leadership.

Inside Higher Ed

News, analysis, and commentary on the issues shaping colleges and universities, including teaching, student success, policy, technology, and academic life.

Listen

Teaching in Higher Ed Podcast

A thoughtful and practical podcast for educators in higher ed, featuring conversations on teaching, learning, and the meaningful use of technology—all with a focus on student success.

Intentional Teaching

Thoughtful conversations about teaching and learning in higher education, hosted by Derek Bruff of the University of Virginia’s Center for Teaching Excellence.

Higher Listenings

Lively conversations with higher education leaders about the trends shaping teaching and learning, with practical ideas for making classrooms more engaging, equitable, and effective.

TEACH Podcast

Conversations with educators and learners about teaching, learning, and the ideas and practices that help students feel engaged, supported, and connected.

Designed for Learning

Interviews with teachers, experts in teaching and learning in higher education, and authors of new books and resources.

2Bobs Podcast

Creative conversations on the art of entrepreneurship with David C. Baker and Blair Enns.

Books

Distracted

By James M. Lang—a thoughtful exploration of attention in the classroom, with practical, research-based strategies to help students—and educators—focus in a world full of interruptions.

Grading for Equity

By Joe Feldman—an intriguing look at how traditional grading practices developed, where inequities can creep in, and how we might rethink grading to make it more accurate and equitable.

Invisible Learning

By David Franklin—an inspiring glimpse into the magic that unfolds in Professor Dan Levy’s legendary Harvard statistics course. It beautifully captures how great teaching transforms students—and I couldn’t put it down!

Gather

Teachers of Accounting at Two Year Colleges (TACTYC) Conference

Annual in-person and virtual conferences showcasing practical strategies for teaching accounting classes.

American Accounting Association (AAA) Conference

The Conference on Teaching and Learning in Accounting (CTLA) focuses on enhancing faculty skills and expanding resources to promote effective student learning.

The Teaching Professor Conference

Professors from across disciplines come together for three days of growth, new ideas, and practical teaching strategies they can bring back to their classrooms.