Title: Information systems freshmen teaching: case experience from day one

Authors: Nicolas Pflanzl; Katrin Bergener; Armin Stein; Gottfried Vossen

Addresses: Department of Information Systems, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS), University of Münster, Leonardo-Campus 3, 48149 Münster, Germany ' Department of Information Systems, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS), University of Münster, Leonardo-Campus 3, 48149 Münster, Germany ' Department of Information Systems, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS), University of Münster, Leonardo-Campus 3, 48149 Münster, Germany ' Department of Information Systems, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS), University of Münster, Leonardo-Campus 3, 48149 Münster, Germany; Department of Management Systems, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand

Abstract: Teaching information systems has been an international challenge for many years now, due to a number of reasons: changing technology, increasing number of applications, addition and modification of pertinent methodologies, to name just a few. Beyond this, the interest from students has been moving up and down over the years, with a recent new high caused by many Gen Y students. This report derives from 20+ years of experience in teaching information systems and summarises our findings as well as our current approach. The latter is characterised by two fundamental decisions: to provide novices with hands-on experience in dealing with information system concepts from day one, and to deliver a reality check on whether someone has chosen the right study subject and, if so, what to expect in study terms and courses to come.

Keywords: information systems education; introductory course; case-based experience; modelling; case study; group work; freshmen teaching; higher education; subject choice.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIOME.2015.073158

International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education, 2015 Vol.6 No.1, pp.49 - 69

Received: 26 Jan 2015
Accepted: 30 Jul 2015
Published online: 25 Nov 2015 *