Information Technologies and Education of Economists

The aim of the paper is to present how usage of different software tools in solving business problems could help students of economy to better integrate theoretical knowledge from different economics subjects and to enhance their technological skills. Namely, IT plays crucial role during the problem-based learning process, serving as a critical tool for information searching, organizing and analyzing data, and presenting solutions. The paper presents the way of use of information technology in education of economists, particularly at Faculty of Economics Mostar and course named Business Intelligence (BI). It is obliged course for students of Management and Business Informatics majors. At the beginning of BI course we interviewed students and discussed their expectations related to proposed learning methods. At the end of the BI course we also interviewed students and discussed fulfilment of their expectations. Namely, BI course implements problem-based learning process through combination of the theoretical knowledge and practical problem solving by using different IT tools. Students focus attention on theoretical knowledge as well as peculiarities of solving problems. They are concentrating on operational context of the practical problem, trying to conceptualize it and deduce solutions acceptable in the project. Every student creates her/his knowledge and structure, makes sense of theories and parts of their reality in her/his own way. Applying information technology as a tool for learning in curriculum areas enables students to develop the knowledge, skills and capacity to use IT in specific field and to be more successful in achieving curriculum outcomes. Through analysis of students expectations/fulfilment related to course learning methods, paper presents how IT could reshape the educational landscape by transforming the content and modes of acquisition of learning as well as how the implementation of IT is inseparable from the process of curriculum development and implementation of problem-based learning. Keywords: Information technology, Higher education, Problem-based learning, Curriculum development, Knowledge acquisition.