Teaching Management Information Systems: A Reflective Study on Pedagogical Practices and Learner Engagement in Business Education

Management Information Systems (MIS) education plays a critical role in preparing business graduates for data-driven organizational environments. However, empirical research on the impact of student-centered pedagogical strategies on learning outcomes in undergraduate MIS courses is limited, particularly in emerging educational contexts. This study investigates the effectiveness of integrating inquiry-based learning, gamification, experiential laboratory sessions, and technology-enhanced instruction in teaching MIS and Applied Data Analysis to Bachelor of Business Administration students. A case study methodology was adopted, combining qualitative observations with quantitative analysis of four internal assessments administered across the semester. Instruction incorporated spreadsheet applications and Jamovi software to develop students? analytical competencies in measures of central tendency, dispersion, correlation, regression, hypothesis testing, non-parametric tests, and ANOVA. Gamified classroom activities and structured question-analysis strategies were employed to enhance engagement and conceptual clarity. Results indicate a consistent improvement in student performance, with the class mean increasing from 14.0 to 18.4 (out of 20) across four assessments. A repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant effect of assessment occasion on performance, F(3, 21) = 8.98, p < .001, &eta;p² = .56, accompanied by reduced score dispersion over time. These findings suggest that integrating student-centered pedagogy with applied analytics tools significantly enhances learner engagement, analytical skills, and academic achievement. The study contributes empirical evidence to the MIS education literature by demonstrating that experiential and technology-supported instructional strategies can effectively strengthen data-driven decision-making competencies in undergraduate business programs.