An alternative teaching approach for information systems

Abstract

lnterpersonal skills and communications are the two topics in Curriculum '95, compiled by the joint task force of the ACM/AIS-ICIS/DPMA, where both academics and industry expect the level of knowledge of the students to be at the application level. One of the reasons for this may be because most of the work that people do require so degree of cooperation and communication with others. Although students generally do not learn cooperatively, they are eventually expected to work cooperatively every day. The social structure used in tertiary education is therefore out of synchrony with the social skills needed in a technological-based economy.

This paper proposes that computer-supported cooperative learning (CSCL), can help to over come the deficiencies in our education system and equip students with the required level of interpersonal skills and communication abilities. In three different case studies a CSCL environment were established with positive learning results. Possibilities which exist for enriching the teaching of Information Systems when a CSCL approach is followed, are discussed.