Using machinima documentary and virtual environments to reinvigorate students' learning in systems development

Abstract

Inspired by the success of the Students @ Work project (Reiners et al., 2008) run at Hamburg University, Curtin University (Perth, Western Australia) has recently concluded the running of a pilot course in Second Life with their Information Systems Project (ISP) management students. The need for a change was evident as student motivation and engagement in the Final Year Project Management course was strikingly low. Left with such a tall order for improvement, the ISP teaching staff looked to find suitable options for change. Staff combined a number of new and interesting tools in an effort to boost and maintain student interest: these tools include the Second Life virtual environment and a new filmmaking technique known as Machinima.