The Use of Computer Simulations as a Pedagogical Aid in Teaching Management Information Systems

Abstract

Information Technology (IT) is a term that subsumes the traditional areas of computers and telecommunications. The Management Information Systems (MIS) course is rapidly evolving into an Information Technology (IT) course for all business majors. A key portion of this course is intended to introduce students to the major telecommunications technologies that are an integral part of networking. This paper focuses on computer simulation designed to facilitate the rapid learning of the many new technologies in telecommunications. Simulation tools such as NETVIZ and GRAFNET have been evaluated and will be demonstrated and discussed. Future MIS courses need to be supplemented with this type of software so that students will gain familiarity with the basic principles and design of modern networking. Such software is now being employed routinely by the practitioners in industry to model modern networks.