An Evaluation Approach Based on the Problem-Based Learning in a Software Engineering Master Course

Ana Paula Carvalho Cavalcanti; Simone Santos; Maria da Conceição Moraes; Jones Albuquerque; Silvio Romero Meira

Authors

Ana Paula Carvalho Cavalcanti CESAR.edu - Educational Unit of Recife Center for Advanced Studies and Systems
Simone Santos CESAR.edu - Educational Unit of Recife Center for Advanced Studies and Systems
Maria da Conceição Moraes CESAR.edu - Educational Unit of Recife Center for Advanced Studies and Systems
Jones Albuquerque CESAR.edu - Educational Unit of Recife Center for Advanced Studies and Systems
Silvio Romero Meira CESAR.edu - Educational Unit of Recife Center for Advanced Studies and Systems

Keywords:

Evaluation Approach,

Abstract

The effectiveness of a Master’s Program Course can only be appraised with the support of an efficient and accurate evaluation program. Taking the Problem Based Learning, as a reference to implement practical and real problems on a class of master students, and the traditional methods that focuses on formal exams as methodology, a method for evaluation was defined to contemplate both scopes. Nevertheless, such method was first applied in a case study of CESAR.edu Master’s Program Class and is being continuously used and improved in order to support the students learning process, providing quantitative results so that they can evaluate and progress their performance along the course. Software Engineering is the core discipline that guides the program, and the implementation of Software Factories is the mean to provide the Problem Based structure in the context of a masters program.