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Ten Years in the Trenches of a Doubtful Science: An Autoethnographic Investigation of Five Challenges of Teaching in Information Systems

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ICT Education (SACLA 2021)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1461))

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Abstract

The field of Information Systems (IS) is characterised by a number of properties that combine to create particular challenges for teaching and learning. These properties include its close ties with rapidly advancing digital technology, its interdisciplinary nature and its general lack of a strong, broadly agreed-upon theoretical core. In the present study, I undertake an autoethnographic investigation of five key challenges for teaching in IS which result from one or more of these properties. To provide theoretical scaffolding for the investigation I adopt Weick’s theory of sensemaking and apply it to investigate both my own and my students’ processes of sensemaking. I propose that to effectively navigate these challenges and prepare students for careers in IS, lecturers should aim to develop their students’ technical and social skills sets such that they are able to navigate the uncertainty and ambiguity that characterise socio-technical systems in practice. To this end, I outline the strategies I have adopted in my attempts to achieve this aim.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Information Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Daniel B. le Roux

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  1. Daniel B. le Roux
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Correspondence to Daniel B. le Roux .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Wai Sze Leung

  2. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Marijke Coetzee

  3. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Duncan Coulter

  4. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Deon Cotterrell

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le Roux, D.B. (2022). Ten Years in the Trenches of a Doubtful Science: An Autoethnographic Investigation of Five Challenges of Teaching in Information Systems. In: Leung, W.S., Coetzee, M., Coulter, D., Cotterrell, D. (eds) ICT Education. SACLA 2021. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1461. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95003-3_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95003-3_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-95002-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-95003-3

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