Volume 7

10 pages 525 K bytes

Let's Have Fun with That Required Computer Information Systems Introduction Course Jeanne M. Baugh Robert Morris University Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Abstract: In many institutions of higher education, students are required to take an Introduction to Computer Information Systems course. The course can be taught in many different manners. This paper represents an attempt to try to peak the interest of the Non-Computer Information Systems major to the CIS field. Two different ways of teaching the course are documented. One includes the conventional method of using the Computer Information Systems textbook with a lot of memorization of terms and concepts along with canned case studies in spreadsheet and database work. The other method of instruction includes many different exercises that are intended to cover the required topics in a somewhat more unconventional, even fun manner. The playing of computer games is actually encouraged during class time. Although there was no great demand from the students to change their major to Computer Information Systems, it is clear by the results of this research that today’s students respond well to creative assignments and exercises. In fact, many of the students in the non-conventional section of the course reported that they felt that they learned more about Computer Information Systems than did the students in the conventionally taught section.

Keywords: Computer literacy, Computer Information Systems Coursework, Student interest

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Recommended Citation: Baugh (2009). Let's Have Fun with That Required Computer Information Systems Introduction Course. Information Systems Education Journal, 7 (73). http://isedj.org/7/73/. ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2008: §2714. ISSN: 1542-7382.)