Robert Sproule

Education and certifications

Bachelor of Commerce (Carleton)
Masters of Business Administration (Calgary)
Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)

Brief biography

Prior to joining the School of Accounting and Finance in 1998 as an Adjunct Lecturer, Bob worked in industry for 28 years. Starting his career in Calgary, Bob held a number of accounting and senior management positions in a variety of industries: oil and gas, consumer goods, agriculture, construction, management consulting and post secondary education.

Bob has taught a number of 100 level financial and management accounting courses. Starting in 2004 he has continually taught both in-class on on-line sections of the course, Introduction to Business in North America. The course is taken on an annual basis by over 1000 students. He has co-authored 3 editions of the textbook used in this course.

Bob has taken an active leadership role in numerous national and international post-secondary organizations focused on teaching and learning. He continues to make numerous presentations with a focus on the role of ePortfolios in support of student learning. His current research interest is the impact of on-line discussions on facilitating deeper learning.

Awards

Desire2EXCEL Innovation Award, (Desire to Learn), 2012
Desire to Learn Teaching Innovation Award (Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE)), 2012
Volunteer of the Year, Multi-media Educational Resources for Learning and On-Line Teaching (MERLOT), 2009
Innovations in Accounting Education, Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA), 2005

Selected Textbooks

Nichels, McHugh, McHugh, Cossa, Sproule. 2013, Understanding Canadian Business, 8e, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 652 pages
Nichels, McHugh, Mchugh, Cossa, Sproule. 2010, Understanding Canadian Business, 7e, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 642 pages

Conference Presentations

R. Sproule. 2014. "ePortfolios in the SAF" , ePortfolios at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo
R. Sproule, T. MacLean, K. Lithgow, G. Malleck, J. Roberts-Smith. 2013."ePortfolios-Benefits, Challenges and Impact on Student Learning, Opportunities and New Directions Conference, Waterloo
R. Sproule. 2012. "Use of ePortfolios in an Integrated Course Sequence", ePortfolio User Group, Waterloo
R. Sproule. 2012. "Action Research I", CAAA Annual Conference, Charlottetown
R. Sproule. 2012. "Action Research II - Putting Research Into Action", CAAA Annual Conference, Charolottetown
R. Sproule, . Timmerman, G. Berberich. 2012. "Teaching Mentor Program", Opportunities and New Directions Conference, Waterloo
R. Sproule. 2012. "Using Group Work in Blended Courses", Blended Learning Community, Waterloo
R. Sproule. 2011. "Deeper Learning Through On-Line Discussions", Large Class Learning Community, Waterloo
R. Sproule and S. Hilton. 2011. "Action Research Workshop", CAAA Annual Conference, Toronto
R. Sproule and L. Robinson. 2011. "Course Design / Re-design", CAAA Annual Conference, Toronto
R. Sproule and J. Pretti. 2011. "Integration of Learning: Classroom, Workplace and PD Modules", WaCACE, Waterloo
R. Sproule and S. Hilton. 2010. "How Well Are Your Students Learning What You Are Teaching", CAAA Annual Conference, Vancouver

Editorial boards

Business Editorial Board, Multi-Media Resources for Learning and On-Line Teaching (MERLOT)

Funding

"ePortfolios and Integrated Learning", Learning Initiative Fund, University of Waterloo, $10,000
"ePortfolios and Employers", WatCASE, University of Waterloo, $10,000
"Development of a Cash-flow Learning Object", Learning Initiative Fund, University of Waterloo, $10,000

Courses taught

Introduction to Business in North America (AFM 131) - Management
Introductory Financial Accounting (AFM 101)
Introductory Management Accounting (AFM 102)
Financial and Management Accounting for Non-Accounting Majors (AFM 123)