Toward Creating Software Architects Using Mobile Project-Based Learning Model (Mobile-PBL) for Teaching Software Architecture
Project-based learning (PBL) promotes increased levels of learning, deepens student understanding of acquired knowledge, and improves learning motivation. Students develop their ability to think and learn independently through depending on themselves in searching for knowledge, planning, exploration...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/7/3/31 |
| _version_ | 1797609766917242880 |
|---|---|
| author | Lamis F. Al-Qora’n Ali Jawarneh Julius T. Nganji |
| author_facet | Lamis F. Al-Qora’n Ali Jawarneh Julius T. Nganji |
| author_sort | Lamis F. Al-Qora’n |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Project-based learning (PBL) promotes increased levels of learning, deepens student understanding of acquired knowledge, and improves learning motivation. Students develop their ability to think and learn independently through depending on themselves in searching for knowledge, planning, exploration, and looking for solutions to practical problems. Information availability, student engagement, and motivation to learn all increase with mobile learning. The teaching process may be enhanced by combining the two styles. This paper proposes and evaluates a teaching model called Mobile Project-Based Learning (Mobile-PBL) that combines the two learning styles. The paper investigates how significantly Mobile-PBL can benefit students. The traditional lecture method used to teach the software architecture module in the classroom is not sufficient to provide students with the necessary practical experience to earn a career as software architects in the future. Therefore, the first author tested the use of the model for teaching the software architecture module at Philadelphia University’s Software Engineering Department on 62 students who registered for a software architecture course over three semesters. She compared the results of using the model for teaching with those results that were obtained when using the project-based learning (PBL) approach alone. The students’ opinions regarding the approach, any problems they had, and any recommendations for improvement were collected through a focus group session after finishing each semester and by distributing a survey to students to evaluate the effectiveness of the used model. Comments from the students were positive, according to the findings. The projects were well-received by the students, who agreed that it gave them a good understanding of several course ideas and concepts, as well as providing them with the required practical experience. The students also mentioned a few difficulties encountered while working on the projects, including student distraction from social media and the skills that educators and learners in higher education institutions are expected to have. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:05:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-396aed21158440e7ae0e96b3608de20b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-4088 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:05:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
| spelling | doaj.art-396aed21158440e7ae0e96b3608de20b2023-11-17T12:59:11ZengMDPI AGMultimodal Technologies and Interaction2414-40882023-03-01733110.3390/mti7030031Toward Creating Software Architects Using Mobile Project-Based Learning Model (Mobile-PBL) for Teaching Software ArchitectureLamis F. Al-Qora’n0Ali Jawarneh1Julius T. Nganji2Department of Software Engineering, Philadelphia University, Amman 19392, JordanFlat 11, Wilton House, London W13 0NP, UKDepartment of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, CanadaProject-based learning (PBL) promotes increased levels of learning, deepens student understanding of acquired knowledge, and improves learning motivation. Students develop their ability to think and learn independently through depending on themselves in searching for knowledge, planning, exploration, and looking for solutions to practical problems. Information availability, student engagement, and motivation to learn all increase with mobile learning. The teaching process may be enhanced by combining the two styles. This paper proposes and evaluates a teaching model called Mobile Project-Based Learning (Mobile-PBL) that combines the two learning styles. The paper investigates how significantly Mobile-PBL can benefit students. The traditional lecture method used to teach the software architecture module in the classroom is not sufficient to provide students with the necessary practical experience to earn a career as software architects in the future. Therefore, the first author tested the use of the model for teaching the software architecture module at Philadelphia University’s Software Engineering Department on 62 students who registered for a software architecture course over three semesters. She compared the results of using the model for teaching with those results that were obtained when using the project-based learning (PBL) approach alone. The students’ opinions regarding the approach, any problems they had, and any recommendations for improvement were collected through a focus group session after finishing each semester and by distributing a survey to students to evaluate the effectiveness of the used model. Comments from the students were positive, according to the findings. The projects were well-received by the students, who agreed that it gave them a good understanding of several course ideas and concepts, as well as providing them with the required practical experience. The students also mentioned a few difficulties encountered while working on the projects, including student distraction from social media and the skills that educators and learners in higher education institutions are expected to have.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/7/3/31software architecture educationJordanian higher educationproject-based learningmobile learning |
| spellingShingle | Lamis F. Al-Qora’n Ali Jawarneh Julius T. Nganji Toward Creating Software Architects Using Mobile Project-Based Learning Model (Mobile-PBL) for Teaching Software Architecture Multimodal Technologies and Interaction software architecture education Jordanian higher education project-based learning mobile learning |
| title | Toward Creating Software Architects Using Mobile Project-Based Learning Model (Mobile-PBL) for Teaching Software Architecture |
| title_full | Toward Creating Software Architects Using Mobile Project-Based Learning Model (Mobile-PBL) for Teaching Software Architecture |
| title_fullStr | Toward Creating Software Architects Using Mobile Project-Based Learning Model (Mobile-PBL) for Teaching Software Architecture |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward Creating Software Architects Using Mobile Project-Based Learning Model (Mobile-PBL) for Teaching Software Architecture |
| title_short | Toward Creating Software Architects Using Mobile Project-Based Learning Model (Mobile-PBL) for Teaching Software Architecture |
| title_sort | toward creating software architects using mobile project based learning model mobile pbl for teaching software architecture |
| topic | software architecture education Jordanian higher education project-based learning mobile learning |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/7/3/31 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lamisfalqoran towardcreatingsoftwarearchitectsusingmobileprojectbasedlearningmodelmobilepblforteachingsoftwarearchitecture AT alijawarneh towardcreatingsoftwarearchitectsusingmobileprojectbasedlearningmodelmobilepblforteachingsoftwarearchitecture AT juliustnganji towardcreatingsoftwarearchitectsusingmobileprojectbasedlearningmodelmobilepblforteachingsoftwarearchitecture |