Volume 4
Volume 4, Number 62 |
August 24, 2006 |
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Janet Helwig
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Abstract: Without a real problem to solve, a Systems Analysis and Design course typically covers systems development from a theoretical perspective, and emphasizes how to develop graphical models (e.g., use case diagrams, data flow diagrams, ERD’s, and UML diagrams) to document requirements and design. However, this course can provide a richer and more meaningful learning experience for students by providing them the opportunity to work as a team to build a real system for real users and thereby experience the “systems development process” – gathering and documenting requirements, designing, building, testing, and deploying. With semester time constraints, though, even a small project may prove unwieldy. Using an architected, rapid application development (ARAD) tool to speed development can help by delivering a well-engineered application architecture and generating much of the needed code. This paper explores the author’s experience teaching this course with a systems development project serving as the main learning activity, look at why providing a real project is invaluable for students, yet challenging for all invested parties, and also discuss how using a commercial ARAD tool enabled this approach.
Keywords: systems development project, teaching methods, Systems Analysis & Design, ARAD tool, application architecture
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Recommended Citation: Helwig (2006). Using a “Real” Systems Development Project to Enrich a Systems Analysis and Design Course. Information Systems Education Journal, 4 (62). http://isedj.org/4/62/. ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2005: §2314. ISSN: 1542-7382.)