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Explore the Learning Objectives for ISM! 

Developing Learning Objectives*

Writing learning objectives at the higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy – Apply (develop, show, use), Analyze (categorize, combine, compare, examine, test), Evaluate (justify, conclude, critique, evaluate, interpret, support, recommend) – improve transfer of course material to the students’ future careers in the following three ways:

  • Engagement:  Requires students to do more than simply remember and understand data. Students must work with the data – classify, categorize, and compare.  They must make decisions. 
  • Active Role:  Requires more detailed responses from students requiring students to play an active role in the process.
  • Discussions:
    • Repetition — Used to start discussions among students. When students discuss a topic, they are exposed to the information again.
    • Retrieval — Students often “expose” each other to applications or facets that they had not previously considered. This facilitates transfer of learning because the students makes additional associations in their mind with the information.  There is a greater likelihood that they will consider the information to be important. 
    • Experience — Requires students to correlate the information to their previous experiences.
    • Feedback — Students receive corrective or confirming feedback during a discussion. Feedback is one of the most powerful mechanisms for learning.  When receiving feedback, students may be called upon to assess, defend, explain, consider, propose, and possibly argue. These help the students see the way in which what is learned can be used.   

Developing well-written learning objectives capitalize on Thorndike’s laws in the following ways:

  • Law of Effect:  Well-written objectives help the instructor create relevant activities. Relevant activities increase the likelihood that students will successfully complete the assessments based on the objectives. 
  • Law of Readiness:  Well-written objectives increase the likelihood that students perceive the objectives as relevant and valuable.
  • Law of Exercise:  Well-written objectives increase the likelihood that the students will find the information useful and will therefore use the information outside of class.

* This section paraphrased / was written / based upon Marianna Ridley's blog post of Febuary 20, 2014 and can be found at ... https://mariannaridley.wordpress.com

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Bloom's Taxonomy

Writing Learning Objectives

Measurable learning outcomes typically consist of:

  • What the student will be able to do as a result of instruction / active participation in a course
  • Specific criteria for student success: What would constitute proficiency?
  • Aligned assessment methods: How is proficiency assessed?

Examples can be found at ... clas.wayne.edu/Multimedia/Syllabi/Writing Learning Outcomes

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ISM Program Learning Objectives

Graduates who have a major in Information Systems Management (ISM) should have obtained skills that will provide them an opportunity to succeed in the Information Systems profession.  The ISM program is focused on seven (7) key overall learning objectives.

LO1: Develop Information Systems and Business Knowledge

Graduates can apply their knowledge of information systems to solve general business issues as well as helping bridge the understanding gap between technical and non-technical business professionals. 

Students gain this knowledge by primarily enhancing three (3) skill categories. These skills include:

    1. Information Systems - Business Strategy linkage skills

      Students have the ability to understand and analyze the connections between Business Strategy, Information Systems Strategy, and Business Processes.

    2. Cost / Benefit Analysis skills

      Students have the ability to understand and analyze the costs and benefits associated with various Information Systems projects.

    3. Software Solution skills

      Students have the ability to understand and analyze how software applications and technology tools impact the organization.

LO2: Demonstrate Critical Thinking / Analytical Skills

Graduates can demonstrate the ability to engage in critical thinking by analyzing various business issues and then constructing and selecting appropriate Information Systems solutions to solve the identified problems.

Students can demonstrate critical thinking abilities including the ability to:

  1. apply appropriate information to business issues,
  2. use databases and large datasets to uncover and present insights,
  3. use analytic tools for data-based evidence, and
  4. conduct reasoning to solve organizational problem, make recommendations, and draw logical conclusions.

LO3: Demonstrate Communication Skills

Graduates can demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.

Students gain this ability by primarily enhancing three (3) skills. These skills include:

  1. Presentation skills
    1. Students will be able to conduct detailed, quality presentations on specified Information Systems topics
    2. Students can identify and use the proper presentation delivery tools and techniques
  2. Written skills
    1. Students can develop and provide written documentation understandable by business users.
    2. Students can demonstrate effective written skills such that the message is clearly understood by individuals with diverse backgrounds, capabilities, and interests.
  3. Collaboration / Team skills
    1. Students can demonstrate leadership skills, consensus building skills, and conflict resolution skills.

(It is understood that effective communication is more than just the words used. Effective communication combines a set of skills including nonverbal communication, engaged listening, managing stress, communicating assertively, and recognizing and understanding both your emotions and the emotions of the person with whom you are communicating. Effective communication includes the ability to explain what you mean in a clear and concise way through written and spoken words. Effective communication includes listening and relating to other people, and acting upon key information / instructions.)

LO4: Develop Technical Application Skills

Graduates can demonstrate effective use of various workplace productivity technology tools such as spreadsheets, word processing applications, presentation software, databases, and electronic communication technology tools such as chatting, email, texting, video, social media, and collaboration tools.

  1. Students can apply these skills to analyze a business problem, evaluate possible solutions, and create a solution as part of an organizational's team.
  2. Students can select and apply appropriate technology tools and techniques to a business problem based upon the specific problem's context.
  3. Students can develop detailed specifications for an application to meet user requirements.
  4. Students can develop web-based applications to meet user needs.
  5. Students can demonstrate an understanding of system administration requirements.
  6. Students can acquire, deploy, maintain, and manage various information systems, infrastructure, security, resources, and services.

LO5: Demonstrate Decision-Making Skills

Graduates will be able to make informed business and technical decisions as well as the ability to solve unstructured problems in a rapidly changing environment. 

Students can analyze a business problem within complex environments affected by multiple facts, external influences, and multiple stakeholders with varying interests and agendas.

LO6: Function Ethically

Graduates can understand and identify ethical issues in business practices and then analyze, evaluate and take a position on the ethical issue.

Students can function ethically and responsibly. They are conscious of ethical, global, legal, professional, security, and social related to information systems.

LO7: Prepared for Employment

Graduates are sufficiently prepared for employment in the Information Systems field and will have experiences with tools and applications to solve business problems.

  1. Students can demonstrate their learning-to-learn skills. They understand how to search for information.
  2. Students have earned professional certifications.
  3. Students can demonstrate an understanding of the various career opportunities available in Information Systems.
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ISM Undergraduate Curriculum Map

 Curriculum Map - Learning Objectives

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Learning Outcomes

Statements of the intended results of the program:

  • Specific, measurable statements of what graduating students should know, be able to do, believe, or value
  • Derived from the mission statement
  • Focused on the results of student learning, not on the learning process or on teaching

 

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