A CASE-BASED APPROACH TO A CASE-BASED APPROACH TO INTEGRATING AN INFORMATION INTEGRATING AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUMTECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM

Kathleen S. HartzelKathleen S. HartzelWilliam E. SpanglerWilliam E. SpanglerMordechai Gal-OrMordechai Gal-OrTrevor H. JonesTrevor H. Jones

PresentationPresentationContext and Definition of ProgramContext and Definition of Program– Philosophy of definitionPhilosophy of definition– University contextUniversity context– Program driversProgram drivers

Program Courses and ContentProgram Courses and ContentCase AdditionCase Addition– Need and rationaleNeed and rationale– ObjectiveObjective– ApproachApproach– StatusStatus

Philosophy of DefinitionPhilosophy of Definition

Dilemma of academic – training balanceDilemma of academic – training balance

Cannot be “all things to all people”Cannot be “all things to all people”

Focus on internal strengths and reputation Focus on internal strengths and reputation of graduatesof graduates

Focus on depth not breadth in coreFocus on depth not breadth in core

Allow breadth as choice in electivesAllow breadth as choice in electives

University ContextUniversity Context

Liberal arts university (general core)Liberal arts university (general core)

Major within School of BusinessMajor within School of Business

Heavily tied to business (non-IT) educationHeavily tied to business (non-IT) education

Limited credit hours available (18+6) for Limited credit hours available (18+6) for specific IT coursesspecific IT courses

Internship credits availableInternship credits available

Program driversProgram drivers

Research and teaching focus of facultyResearch and teaching focus of faculty

Parent expectationsParent expectations

Student expectationsStudent expectations

Employer expectationsEmployer expectations

Employment market opportunitiesEmployment market opportunities

Course Content and ObjectivesCourse Content and Objectives

Not vendor specificNot vendor specificSystems architecturesSystems architecturesDatabase centric - focused on modelingDatabase centric - focused on modelingSystems Analysis and design – focused Systems Analysis and design – focused on SDLC and process modelingon SDLC and process modelingApplication development – focused on Application development – focused on process logicprocess logicIntegration of subject components into Integration of subject components into holistic systems development perspectiveholistic systems development perspective

IT Program Core StructureIT Program Core Structure

Prog. Intro.

Architecture

Database SAD App. Dev.

Business Core

SoftwareIntegration

SystemIntegration

Case - Need and RationaleCase - Need and Rationale

Overcome silo approach to content Overcome silo approach to content deliverydelivery

Provide practical, integrated forum for Provide practical, integrated forum for course content accumulationcourse content accumulation

Demand students appreciate necessity for Demand students appreciate necessity for integrated knowledge set integrated knowledge set

Provides a “top down” mechanism for Provides a “top down” mechanism for defining lower class content requirementsdefining lower class content requirements

Case - ObjectiveCase - Objective

App. Dev.Database

SAD Adv. Apps.

IntegratedCase

Systems

Integration

Case - ApproachCase - Approach

Case context is jointly determined (e.g. Case context is jointly determined (e.g. order entry sub-system)order entry sub-system)

Each area defines own scope, parameters Each area defines own scope, parameters to fulfill course objectivesto fulfill course objectives

Integration of area content to create Integration of area content to create single, unified case descriptionsingle, unified case description

Maintenance of components to allow re-Maintenance of components to allow re-use/modification over consecutive periodsuse/modification over consecutive periods

Case - StatusCase - Status

Context defined – sales order entryContext defined – sales order entry

Case scope to be refined according to Case scope to be refined according to class requirementsclass requirements

Conceptual requirements for each area Conceptual requirements for each area (class) defined(class) defined

Working on documenting area scope and Working on documenting area scope and deliverablesdeliverables

Planned implementation – Fall 2004Planned implementation – Fall 2004