Co-operating to learn using JAD techniques

Abstract

The role of the Information Systems' (IS) developer is changing. IS developers are required to be able to work with users and get a common understanding with them. In order to achieve this, the developers must have not only technical skills, but also good interpersonal and communication skills. This means that tertiary institutions will need to help IS students to develop these skills while they are learning the technical skills. · This paper describes two case studies that were done at the Port Elizabeth Technikon. The first case study is not described in detail but gives an overview of the use of Joint Application Design (JAD) techniques in the classroom to promote learning of group and modelling techniques. The second case study is described more fully and shows how the techniques of cooperative learning were combined with the JAD techniques in order to promote this learning.