Project-Based Learning Improves Critical Thinking for Software Development Students

Here we share our experiences in applying project-based learning and its impact on critical thinking skills. In the software development (SD) track of information technology majors, upper-level SD courses are designed to combine students' accumulated programming knowledge for learning to develop software applications, reaching their ultimate goal. Usually, SD courses aim to maximize student success and achievement by training students with instructor-defined projects having known solutions. On one hand, students apply past knowledge and skills and improve problem-solving while realizing the project. On the other, students can become disconnected from, or bored with, the problems since students do not own the project. In addition, the projects do not present unknown challenges requiring to exercise critical thinking and creativity. As an alternative, we assign students novel real-world projects, proposed by external clients who direct the development of the respective software product. In-class simulation of real-world scenarios is known to be more effective for learning than lecturing in software development and engineering education [1]. We propose that project-based learning using a previously unsolved problem will improve student critical thinking and problem solving skills, two key STEM competencies important for software engineering. Furthermore, we expect a positive synergy between student success, as project goals are attained, and motivation to complete the project. We measured a significant increase of critical thinking skills in a senior-level undergraduate Software Development course. We assessed these skills using the CAT (Critical Thinking Assessment Test), a standard instrument developed by the Tennessee Tech University [2]. We administered pre- and post- CAT in two sections of the course in Fall 2018, at the beginning and end of the semester, respectively. We observed a statistically significant (one-tailed, paired t-test, p<0.05) increase of 11% between pre- and post CAT scores from 16 students. Our preliminary results suggest that the project-based approach to teaching software development increases general critical thinking skills. Student projects can be accessed at https://soft-eng-practicum.github.io/