Message from the AIS SIGED President Vasso Stylianou

Dedicated to promoting excellence in IS and IT

education, research, and practice.

Our Motto: Connect More, Achieve More!

2024 Focus: Promoting Sustainable IS/IT Education

Dear SIG Education members,

Based on the approval of the Bylaw changes and recent elections, I would like to begin by congratulating the members of the new Executive Board of SIGED:

• President: Vasso Stylianou
• President-Elect: Rosetta Romano
• Past President & Treasurer: Toon Abcouwer
• Secretary: Jayan Chirayath Kurian

In addition, the following Directors were appointed by the Executive Board to serve in 2024:

• Research Director: Tania Prinsloo
• Membership Director: John Muraski
• Website Director: Helena Vallo Hult
• Board Member: Blooma John
• Board Member: Richa Awasthy

Please join me in congratulating these individuals and thanking them for volunteering their time and efforts to support our SIGED community!

In our newsletter, we will continue to feature one member of the Board in each edition to share their experiences and plans. In this edition, we hear from our Membership Director, John Muraski.

We have an exciting SIGED Community|Newsletter this quarter! Please continue reading to learn about 2023 SIGED Successes, 2024 SIGED Plans, ECISER CFP, AMCIS CFP, 2023 Member Satisfaction Results, and the Career Mentor Program!

Visit our website, https://AIS-SIGED.org, and use our email, info@ais-siged.org, to stay connected and contribute towards our common goals. Everyone is welcome to join us and volunteer to serve the community.  Let us work all together to reach greater achievements!

Be Healthy! Be Happy!

On behalf of the SIGED Board

Vasso Stylianou (President SIGED)

Meet Our Board:

John Muraski, Membership Director

Dr. John Michael Muraski is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, College of Business. He brings a wealth of industry experience to his academic career, with 20 years of professional practice in various sectors and a strong background in consulting.

My research interests lie in several primary areas. First, I am dedicated to investigating the challenges and opportunities faced by high school and college students who may hesitate to pursue technology-related educational and career pathways. Second, I have explored ecosystem development and maturity in regional STEM and regional entrepreneurship contexts. Finally, as an elected local village trustee, I have begun exploring the positive impact of Generative AI on government and the potential negative impact of Generative AI on elections.

I specialize in teaching Generative AI, project management, business analysis, and future foresight and strategy. I also spearhead unique initiatives, including serving as the new School of Informatics project manager and leading the development and roll-out of C•CUBE, a freely available Toolkit to Amplify the Role of Colleges and Universities in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems.

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmuraski/

What recent advancements should be influencing the future of IS/IT education?

Generative AI is set to redefine the IS/IT education landscape by transforming teaching methods and curriculum development. In pedagogy, Generative AI enables the creation of dynamic, responsive educational materials that can simulate complex, real-world IT challenges for students to navigate. This approach enriches and personalizes the learning experience, allowing content to be tailored to each student's learning pace and style.

Incorporating Generative AI into student coursework is pivotal for hands-on engagement with emergent technologies. It equips students with the ability to automate routine data tasks, fosters innovative problem-solving skills, and cultivates a critical eye for evaluating AI-generated solutions. Beyond the classroom, understanding and utilizing Generative AI prepares students for a technology-saturated landscape, ensuring they are not merely passive users but active shapers and discerning critics of AI applications.



What is your involvement in SIGED?

My engagement with SIGED began back in 2015 when I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Tom Case at the AMCIS conference in Puerto Rico. His encouragement was instrumental in my decision to join SIGED the following year. Since then, I have actively participated in the group, initially serving as Secretary for four years, a role that allowed me to contribute to the organization's foundational activities. Currently, I hold the position of Director of Membership. My primary responsibilities include monitoring membership dynamics and producing the Community|Newsletter. Looking ahead, I would like to expand our outreach efforts by recruiting volunteers to help with welcoming new members and enhancing strategies for member recruitment and retention. These initiatives are key to fostering a vibrant and growing SIGED community. Can you help me with these initiatives?

How can someone get involved with SIGED operations?

Feel free to reach out to any of the board members. I would be happy to speak to you about my experience and the benefits of being more engaged!

https://ais-siged.org/officers/ 

2023 Member Satisfaction

The 2023 SIGED Community Member Satisfaction Survey occurred from 1-31 October. It was completed by 20 members, the majority of whom were Doctorate holders and working in higher education. Here are some highlights:

Top reasons for becoming a member of SIGED: 

• To get involved with research on education
• To improve my network of research collaborators

Most important activities:

• AMCIS Education track
• ICISER
• Newsletter

Suggestions: 

• Collaboration with other SIGs
• Flexible/convenient/varying times for events
• Utilize more social media (including LinkedIn) for communication and socializing
• Establish an Education IS journal that focuses on student research
• Promote more member connections for interaction
• Offer a scholarship or fund for projects
• Informal online events (with break-out rooms, if needed) to exchange ideas, teaching experiences/material, etc. 
• Teaching tips/resources (hands-on) / best practices / innovative teaching approaches (e.g., how to apply Gen. AI in the classroom) on the website

How do you rate your overall experience with SIG Education so far?

• Very Good 64.71%
• Good 23.53%
• Neutral 11.76% 

We would like all of you who have taken the survey. Your feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated and will be considered for future SIGED activities.