Developing and evaluating a game-based software engineering educational system

Research in software engineering education has, in recent years, attempted to achieve the equilibrium between academia and practice. The software engineering education research community has obtained a number of valuable outcomes in the areas of content curriculum, pedagogy, and technology, respectively. However, very few studies have successfully integrated these three dimensions into a single learning environment. This study developed and evaluated a Game-Based Software Engineering Educational System (GBSEES) for software engineering education. GBSEES adopted a role-playing strategy using a digital game-based learning model. This game-based system was based on the educational theory of Technological Pedagogicul Content Knowledge, which integrates pedagogical knowledge, content knowledge, and technological knowledge. In the game-based learning system, students learned about the process of software development in a team-based environment by using a role-playing gaming strategy. The study also investigated the effect of the GBSEES on the students' attitude to learning.