Active Learning Pedagogical Strategies in Software Engineering University Courses

Abstract

Context: Active learning provides learning contexts where students can acquire experience by doing contextualized and meaningful activities that involve high-order thinking. Despite active learning being proved to be more effective providing hands-on experience in software engineering situations, traditional learning activities such as lectures still rival the former.

Objectives: Identify and define what active learning strategies are used in software engineering higher education (1) and what application experiences of such strategies have been conducted between 2018 and 2023 (2).

Method: We conducted a Rapid Review to identify active learning strategies applied in Software Engineering in higher education. We conducted an empirical case study about the deployment and evaluation of active learning strategies in our Software Engineering Department.

Results: 18 active learning strategies on software engineering were found across 49 studies. Games and Project-Based Learning were the most frequently used strategies.

Conclusions: Active learning strategies can be combined with others as well as combined with traditional learning activities like lectures in order to foster both lower and higher order thinking skills. Team-Based Learning is one relevant strategy in our Software Engineering Department. Overall, lecturers express Team-Based Learning is a positive addition to courses and would continue deploying it.