Title: An active learning approach to teaching undergraduate systems analysis course

Authors: Naveen Gudigantala, James J. Hoffman

Addresses: Rawls College of Business Administration, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. ' Rawls College of Business Administration, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA

Abstract: Preparing undergraduate information systems students to be successful systems analysts is a challenging task. The students require higher-order thinking skills to successfully solve many real life business problems. Traditional lecturing alone is not entirely effective in imparting such skills. The objective of this article is to propose an active learning approach that can be used when teaching an undergraduate systems analysis course. The development of active learning exercises and their implementation in the classroom setting is discussed. Both quantitative and qualitative feedback from students is elicited. The feedback shows that students perceived the active learning based instruction positively. The students also indicate that this approach contributed to their understanding of the material, and their ability to apply the learned material to different contexts.

Keywords: active learning; active learning exercises; critical thinking; teaching; systems analysis; undergraduates; information systems; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIOME.2008.023439

International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education, 2008 Vol.2 No.4, pp.358 - 377

Published online: 23 Feb 2009 *

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