Verifying the Effectiveness of Improvement for Practical Software Development Exercises to Encourage Subjective Learning

Abstract

　In this study，we applied project-based learning and problem-based learning in a software development exercise for undergraduate students. This exercise was the result of an earlier one，which has been conducted since 2010，to improve practical skills among such students through collective software development. As with the earlier exercise，the aim with the present one was to give opportunities for students to learn by themselves while acquiring knowledge and skills. We found that the present exercise had a good learning effect. However，the load on the students was high，and it was difficult for them to complete the assignments on time; accordingly，the degree of completion of the deliverables was not high. In this paper，we clarify the problems we observed with the present exercise and identify the possible effectiveness of various improvement measures.