USING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Electrical engineering students have traditionally had difficulty in obtaining a deep understanding of the principles of software development. Although they understand and can use the required techniques, they do not have the experience required to develop an acceptance of the need for these techniques. This paper details the redevelopment of the introductory computing subject, and in particular focusses on the the introduction of teaching innovations aimed at assisting the students in obtaining a deeper understanding of the issues and ramifications of software engineering. The techniques used include case studies of expert solutions, peer review, and software walkthroughs. The techniques are outlined, and the results of preliminary trials described. Finally, the application of these techniques to other aspects of engineering education are considered.