Improving learning in a database course using collaborative learning techniques

In recent years European universities have been adapting their curricula to the new European Higher Education Area, whichimplies the use of active learning methodologies. In most database courses, project-based learning is the active methodology that iswidely used, but the authors of this paper face context constraints against its use. This paper presents a quantitative and qualitativeanalysis of the results obtained from the use of collaborative learning in both cross-curricula competences and subject-specific onesin the ‘‘Introduction to Databases’’ course at the Barcelona School of Informatics. Relevantly, this analysis demonstrates thepositive impact that this methodology had, allowing us to conclude that it is not only project-based learning that is suitable forthese kinds of courses.