ERIC Number: EJ1053032
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Dec
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2357
EISSN: N/A
Promoting Communication Skills for Information Systems Students in Australian and Portuguese Higher Education: Action Research Study
Isaias, Pedro; Issa, Tomayess
Education and Information Technologies, v19 n4 p841-861 Dec 2014
This paper aims to examine the value of communication skills learning process through various assessments in Information Systems (IS) postgraduate units in Australia and Portugal. Currently, communication skills are indispensable to students in expanding their social networks and their knowledge at university and in the future workplace, since businesses expect their employees to have strong communication and presentation skills. This paper provides empirical evidence based on the anonymous quantitative and qualitative data collected during 2 years from 126 postgraduate students, which were collected via formal and informal feedback. Various assessment methods were used in Information Systems units to promote and develop the communication skills; these assessments are: reflective journal, business plan and prototype, discussion forum, presentation, and final examination. A Communication skills model (CSM) was developed based on Action research principles to promote the assessments which will assist IS students to enhance their communication skills. The research outcomes indicated that integrating communication skills in the assessments will allow students to promote their communication skills and boost their self-esteem skills. Furthermore, this paper added a new theoretical and practical contribution to higher-education teaching and learning literature, especially the action research for teachers to promote and develop communication skills among students. Finally, integrating these skills in the units should meet the objectives and aims of the units, Master's degrees, universities, and businesses' needs, and satisfy our student's needs.
Descriptors: Communication Skills, Information Systems, Higher Education, Action Research, Learning Processes, Units of Study, Information Science Education, Feedback (Response), Graduate Students, Student Journals, Discourse Communities, Exit Examinations, Skill Development, Program Development, Teaching Methods, Educational Practices, Qualitative Research, Statistical Analysis, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia; Portugal
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A