A Review of Case Studies in an ICT Prescribed Text Builds Soft Skills and Delivers Work Ready Graduates

Abstract

Many educators in the higher education marketplace write and publish text and digital resource suites based on teaching materials they have developed for specific pedagogic requirements. In order to generate further editions that reflect changes in the marketplace, publishers conduct reviews. This paper reports and responds to a national academic survey conducted by Pearson Education Australia. The text in question is 'Business for Computing Success and Information Communication Technology (ICT) textbook. This research makes an original contribution to the area of teaching and learning in business. Change drivers for revisions include the academic review conducted in the higher education marketplace and technological advances. Findings of the publisher instituted surveys of faculty within the various business disciplines, directed the integration of case-studies throughout the text, modifications to digital materials and the inclusion of new topics. Resources were designed to support student acquisition of high order end user business and computing skills and a need for learning experiences that developed the ability to creatively solve problems and develop solutions in an ethical manner for both local and global business scenarios. As such there is a clear focus on the integration of case-study resources with the assessment model that should be adapted. This paper describes the resources created and as a consequence of this review.