Forming IT Professionals in the Internet Age: A Critical Case Study

Abstract

This chapter considers the question how professional issues can be taught in an undergraduate environment where little academic experience is to be expected. It develops a theoretical framework, which justifies the need for such teaching and indicates that codes of conduct can be a useful vehicle to address these issues. Given the constructivist teaching theory that was deemed appropriate for the subject, the chapter proceeds to discuss the realisation of the teaching of professional standards in a HND programme in a UK university. The chapter discusses the result of the module and the strengths and weaknesses of the approach as well as a follow-up investigation into student’s views of professionalism.