The use of modern pedagogical techniques when introducing information technology students to entrepreneurship

Abstract

This paper describes the design of teaching and learning activities (TLAs) in an entrepreneurship subject offered to Information Technology (IT) students. We describe the challenges that we have encountered. Within one teaching semester, the students are expected to achieve a high level of applied knowledge in an area where they have little theoretical knowledge. We introduce TLAs that are not common in an IT curriculum. These TLAs use experience as the basis of knowledge, collaboration as the focus of learning and a reflective approach to structuring knowledge. We identify our rationale for using these new TLAs to achieve the intended learning outcomes for the subject based on the existing literature. To evaluate the effectiveness of our design, we conducted an annual survey. The results of the survey support our design. Student feedback surveys and end of course assessment results indicate that the new TLAs have enhanced the students’ learning.

Keywords:

• subject design
• teaching and learning activities
• intended learning outcomes
• entrepreneurship
• teaching practice reviews

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.