Promoting communication skills for information systems students in Australian and Portuguese higher education: Action research study

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...

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Main Authors: Isaias, Pedro, Issa, Tomayess
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17709
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author Isaias, Pedro
Issa, Tomayess
author_facet Isaias, Pedro
Issa, Tomayess
author_sort Isaias, Pedro
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description 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.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-177092017-09-13T15:58:24Z Promoting communication skills for information systems students in Australian and Portuguese higher education: Action research study Isaias, Pedro Issa, Tomayess 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. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17709 10.1007/s10639-013-9257-9 Springer fulltext
spellingShingle Isaias, Pedro
Issa, Tomayess
Promoting communication skills for information systems students in Australian and Portuguese higher education: Action research study
title Promoting communication skills for information systems students in Australian and Portuguese higher education: Action research study
title_full Promoting communication skills for information systems students in Australian and Portuguese higher education: Action research study
title_fullStr Promoting communication skills for information systems students in Australian and Portuguese higher education: Action research study
title_full_unstemmed Promoting communication skills for information systems students in Australian and Portuguese higher education: Action research study
title_short Promoting communication skills for information systems students in Australian and Portuguese higher education: Action research study
title_sort promoting communication skills for information systems students in australian and portuguese higher education: action research study
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17709