ANUKARNA : a software engineering simulation game for teaching practical decision making in peer code review

Abstract

Software Engineering (SE) being a practice-oriented and applied field is taught primarily (at University Level) using instructor-driven classroom lectures as well as team-based projects requiring hands-on skills. In comparison to classroom lectures, team-based hands-on projects require more active participation and experiential learning. SE educators have proposed and shown positive student learning outcomes by teaching certain concepts using simulation games. Some of the advantages of teaching using simulation games are incorporation of real-world dynamics such as critical decision making under multiple and conflicting goals, encountering unexpected and unanticipated events, allowing exploration of alternatives (discovery learning) and allowing incorporation of learning through doing and failure. We develop a web-based interactive educational SE simulation game or environment for teaching bene fits and best-practices of peer-code review process. We describe a learning framework and model based on discovery learning, learning from failure, evidence and reasoning for teaching concepts on the practice of peer code review. Finally we evaluate the proposed learning framework and tool by conducting experiments and collecting feedback from users and present the results of our evaluation.