Case Study Oriented Learning Environment for Software Engineering

Abstract

The primary goal of this work is development of an effective and sustainable Software Engineering (SE) learning environment for Indian conditions. Educators are trying to create high impact learning environments. However, instruction design and evaluation for SE is a complex process due to presence of several impacting factors, situated in the nature of software, SE, academia and industry. newlineWe examined the interdisciplinary domain of SE Education (SEEd) to identify factors impacting SE education. Accordingly, requirements, related to learning, and Differentiating needs (Systemic and Climatic), i.e. qualities of the learning environment which directly or indirectly impact learning were identified and presented as a generazable taxonomy. We also identified several significant interactions between various qualities, which will determine the pedagogy design and validation. newlineWe identified India specific requirements and accordingly designed Case oriented Learning environment for Software Engineering (COSEEd). It uses case based instruction with structured problem solving at its core. Essentially, challenges in well-designed case studies engage students in authentic SE activities for solving authentic, contextualized problems. newlineA novel, requirement based, formal validation approach, Requirement Satisfaction Index (RSI) was developed to detect and measure the presence of requisite qualities. Several studies examined the effectiveness of COSEEd for Learning, Climatic qualities and Systemic qualities. Results indicate the that COSEEd can be used to impart learning at all levels of cognition. It satisfied almost all India specific Climatic requirements, especially practice-orientation and interesting. Systemic qualities of being like scalable, flexible, mature, and administratively usable,were satisfied, though COSEEd is not resource efficient. newlineOverall, COSEEd is an effctive LE of SE and establishes need and a way of rigorous research in SE education.