ERIC Number: EJ1061618
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Jan
Pages: 29
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1540-4595
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Expeditionary Learning in Information Systems: Definition, Implementation, and Assessment
Abrahams, Alan S.; Singh, Tirna
Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, v11 n1 p47-75 Jan 2013
In the natural sciences, collecting, cataloguing, and comparing living specimens have long been a popular, collaborative mode of discovery and learning. New species are discovered, and the relationships between species are theorized. From Aristotle's "History of Animals" to Darwin's "On the Origin of Species", and beyond, this process of learning through expedition has yielded bountiful knowledge and insights to students of science. In this paper, we propose that expeditionary learning can be applied to a softer science: the field of information systems. In the field of information systems, specimens (information systems) are created by humans, evolving with great speed. Expeditionary learning--where students collaboratively discover, catalog, and compare rapidly evolving information system specimens--is an innovative approach for learners in the IS field, and is effective in increasing IS program visibility and delivering significant, measurable community impact. Our results indicate that learning by expedition has a strong, positive community impact through educating external learners (such as high school and community college students, and the general public), and compares favorably to conventional experiential and service learning styles. Though expeditionary learning does not yield improved course evaluations, we demonstrate that learners' perceived self-knowledge and intentions to pursue the subject area are improved.
Descriptors: Information Systems, Learning, Discovery Processes, Cataloging, Comparative Analysis, Experiential Learning, Instructional Effectiveness, Instructional Innovation
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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