The six papers in this issue cover diverse topics: longitudinal trends in student attitudes toward course-related Internet use, an innovative cross-disciplinary and team-based environment that enables students to actively engage in concept application, service learning, programming, ethics, and course management software. Something for everyone teaching information systems courses!
With the widespread adoption of course management software, instructors have identified many new ways to use it to enhance the information systems curriculum. Two articles in this issue address the use of course management software and how its application is perceived by students. Both articles provide insights into how the use of course management is likely to change and how it is likely to impact curriculum design.
Two manuscripts tackle programming issues. One focuses on the use of class projects to hone programming skills and student self-confidence while the other provides insights into how to help inexperienced programming develop concurrent programming skills. Virtually all IS programs require at least one programming course and any insights in how we can improve course content and improve course image and student perceptions of their ability is valuable. Students in many IS degree programmers suffer their way through required programming courses and many exit such courses with little or no desire to be programmers.
The other two papers tackle social and ethical issues. The paper with ‘ethics’ in the title was a Best Paper winner at the 2004 International Conference on Informatics Education Research. The other article discusses a case study that involved service learning projects for a non-profit organization needing assistance after September 11th. Both papers provide guidance on how instructors can encourage information systems students to be responsible in both their current role as student and their future careers.
Thank you to all the authors in this issue for their patience. The list of challenges in getting this issue to the publisher reads like a soap opera: viruses in both staff members and hardware, appendicitis in the managing editor, broken bones in the content editor, new staff performing manuscript formatting and now a new way of submitting the finished product to the publisher. So thank you for your patience with the publication delays and know that we are now back on track.
JIER readers should be heartened by the overall quality of the articles in this issue. With what is in the pipeline, the future looks even brighter.
Mary J. GrangerReturn to the Table of Contents