Green IS in teaching - specialist or generalist

It is becoming recognised that the question of "sustainability " or ("green-ness") has a significant role to play in the teaching of information systems in higher education. In response, some institutions have developed specialised courses, typically at graduate level, either as components of wider programmes, or in their own right. Others have integrated the topic into undergraduate teaching, perhaps as a component of systems analysis and design courses, treating environmental impact as a design constraint within a solution. Computer science programmes may use their computer architecture-themed modules to introduce the relationship between hardware design and energy use or the ethics and professionalism strand may be developed through consideration of electronic waste or the legal issues around the need for compliance with legislation. This shows that there is considerable variation possible in breadth and depth of content, and raises the question of appropriateness, suitability of material and targeting at an appropriate level. There also exists considerable potential for variation of emphasis in presentation according to students ' motivations: some might respond positively to a focus on cost-saving; others on behaving "responsibly " and environmenta