ISEDJ

Information Systems Education Journal

Volume 15

V15 N4 Pages 75-83

July 2017


Role-Playing and Problem-Based Learning:


Jacqueline C. Pike
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA

William Spangler
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA

Valerie Williams
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA

Robert Kollar
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA


Abstract: To create a learning experience which replicates the process by which consultants, systems developers and business end users collaborate to design and implement a business application, a cross-functional student team project was developed and is described. The overall learning experience was distinguished by specific components and characteristics of the project, including: 1) a problem-based learning approach which presented students with an accounting auditing problem requiring the design and development of computer-based application from scratch; 2) the formation of cross-functional teams comprised of students across multiple sections of two different courses (the capstone courses for both Accounting and Information Systems); and 3) the contributions of individual students based on their respective backgrounds and roles in the project. The roles included domain/content experts (accounting students) as well as consultants, business analysts and developers (information systems students). The intentional use of cross-functional teams and assigned roles distinguishes this approach from other problem-based approaches. Further, the teams had additional extrinsic motivation as the business applications they developed could be submitted to a contest hosted by a professional organization. Pre- and post-assessment data indicate that students learned, through iteration and trial-and-error, new interpersonal, analytical and technical skills through client-consultant interactions, problem definition and formulation, requirements analysis, business process and data modeling and application development.

Keywords: business application development, capstone, cross-functional teams, Information Systems Pedagogy, problem-based learning

Download this article: ISEDJ - V15 N4 Page 75.pdf


Recommended Citation: Pike, J. C., Spangler, W., Williams, V., Kollar, R. (2017). Role-Playing and Problem-Based Learning:. Information Systems Education Journal, 15(4) pp 75-83. http://isedj.org/2017-15/ ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of EDSIG 2016)