Project-Based Learning Focused on Professional Skills: An Approach Applied on Human-Computer Interaction and Software Requirements Under-Graduation Courses

Abstract

Human-Computer Interaction and Software Requirements are courses that demand special attention to concepts. Precisely, and because they are more theoretical, it becomes difficult to motivate undergraduate students to acquire professional skills that are desired in the market. The idea is to bring them closer to the new profile of the Software Engineer. In this profile, skills such as proactive behaviour, critical sense and harmony in collective work are expected. Based on this context, educational approaches that allow the development of these skills become necessary. This paper presents an experience report on the use of Project-based Learning in the Software Requirements and Human-Computer Interaction courses, during two terms. The application was conducted with Participatory Action Research, accompanied by data collection using questionnaires, and qualitative analysis of these data, from the perspective of undergraduate Software Engineering instructors and students from the University of Brasilia. The experience report described in this paper addresses the use of Project-based Learning in subjects, in which the topics taught are on a higher level of abstraction (in other words, more theoretical and conceptual). Theses particularities differ our contributions from other analyzed proposals, in which there is a more practical and applied profile. The obtained results are promising and indicate that Project-based Learning improves professional skills, allowing a review on the traditional-based learning methods commonly used in courses with similar profiles. As further work, we intend to adjust some perceived weaknesses, such as: dealing more adequately with social aspects.