Technical or Social? University Extension and Training in Information Systems

This article aims to analyse the importance of the extension activity and the sociotechnical approach in the configuration of the Information Systems field. The adopted methodology consisted of combining the history of Computer Science and its subfield Information Systems with studies of curricula in the light of Critical Theories. In addition, a case study is presented addressing the discipline Computing and Society. As a main result this article justifies the importance of the extension activity in the realization of the sociotechnical approach. Finally, some reflections are elaborated on the requirement of the National Education Plan that, until 2024, every undergraduate course incorporates 10% of the extension in its curriculum.