App Development and Store Publication as a Way to Attract and Retain Students Majoring in Technology Disciplines

A large survey Management Information Systems course required of all business major included a project where students designed, developed and published (in a real online store) one or more mobile apps using no-code tools. Extra credit was offered for publishing multiple apps, improving/updating the published apps, and several other activities relating to the online store community. Student attitudes about technology majors before and after the project were measured. Results indicate that the real-world nature of the project and online store community interaction resulted in high satisfaction with the project and positively changed perceptions and intent to pursue technology career paths in more than twenty-five percent of the participants