Abstract: Educators realize that the Internet has the potential to dramatically change education. There is also a widespread recognition that student learning is enhanced when students are actively engaged in the process of their education. This paper describes a project in which the Internet was used to support active learning in an introductory Information Systems class. A Web forum was used to simulate the interaction of systems analysts (students) and a client in determining the requirements for a system. Students were actively involved in the construction of the system requirements through communications with the client. The exercise was successful in enhancing the realism of requirements analysis activities in a course project, as revealed by the nature of the online discussions with the client, as well as students' evaluation of the project. We describe how the project was designed and implemented, evaluate its successes and limitations from both student and instructor perspectives, and offer advice for instructors interested in carrying out similar projects.

Keywords: Systems development, Active learning, Introductory IS, Web forum

Download this article: JISE - Volume 11 Number 3-4, Page 141.pdf

Recommended Citation: Parsons, J. & Foster, K. D. (2000). Using the Internet to Build Realism in Teaching Requirements Analysis. Journal of Information Systems Education, 11(3-4), 141-146.