Fun and games: a new software engineering course

Reviewer: Alexis Leon

This paper describes how the use of computer games has improved the effectiveness of a software engineering course, in terms of achieving the objectives mentioned in SE2004 [1]. Software engineering is a very important course, but it is a tough subject to teach. Most software engineering courses fail to bridge the gap between theory and practice, making the transition from the classroom to the real world difficult for students. Students often fail to grasp the complexity of the real projects and issues associated with the design and development of quality software. The authors argue that this drawback of conventional software engineering courses could be eliminated by making students solve real problems and develop quality software. They explain in detail the methodology they used to teach software engineering, which made real projects and product development course requirements. The development of computer games was chosen as the "real" project because it was interesting, and developing high-quality computer games requires many skills that are vital for the successful development of high-quality software. Students had to develop three computer games of increasing complexity. During these projects, the students were introduced to real-world software development issues like project management, teamwork, resource constraints, deadlines, quality assurance, documentation, and the need for and importance of continuous learning. The authors claim that their new method of teaching software engineering using computer games as part of the course not only achieved the main objectives specified by SE2004, but also helped in actively engaging students and motivating them to use the best practices of software development. This paper will be of interest to educators who design, develop, and teach software engineering courses. Online Computing Reviews Service