Effective Design and Use of Requirements Engineering Training Games

Abstract

Games may be fun to play, but do they help students learn? In this position paper, the authors argue that games are an effective mechanism to achieve deep learning and help students retain information, but only if those games are designed appropriately. To support this position, the paper provides a short overview of game-based learning theory, followed by three example training games with which the authors have had success.

Gamifying requirements: An empirical analysis of game‐based technique for novices

“…They concluded that such playful activities could be invaluable in enhancing students' experience in requirements gathering for software development. Past studies have also shown concordance with gamified learning for the requirement elicitation process for students 68 The research work conducted by Knauss et al 73 focused on building a digital serious game for elicitation gathering to increase students' ability to understand stakeholders' needs and requirements.…”

“…66,67 In previous studies, the authors researched that game-based learning not only helps students to learn but is also helpful in retaining concepts and information. 68 Moreover, evidence of the effectiveness of gamified requirements elicitation by improving stakeholders' collaboration has been provided by the research work. 69,70 Another mapping review performed 71 revealed that software engineering needs further research to integrate gamification into the SE domain.…”

“…Past studies have also shown concordance with gamified learning for the requirement elicitation process for students. 68 • The research work conducted by Knauss et al 73 focused on building a digital serious game for elicitation gathering to increase students' ability to understand stakeholders' needs and requirements. For this purpose, they collected the game's content from lectures on real-world situations.…”

“…In previous studies, the authors researched that game‐based learning not only helps students to learn but is also helpful in retaining concepts and information 68 …”

Avaliação da Aprendizagem em Experimentos com Jogo Educativo de Engenharia de Requisitos

“…Pesquisas na área de treinamento e educação sugerem o uso de jogos, pois podem engajar o estudante, reforçando conceitos através da prática, e aprofundando os conhecimentos [El-shamy 2001]. A utilidade desses jogos está altamente acoplada a sua habilidade de entreter os estudantes e refletir as atividades da Engenharia de Requisitos do mundo real, e de serem simples de entender e de jogar [Alexander and Beatty 2008]. O envolvimento emocional de um estudante aumenta conforme o entretenimento, e assim ocorre a variação de estímulos, o que ajuda o estudante a reter novos conhecimentos, e para isto as aulas palestradas não são suficientes [Alexander and Beatty 2008].…”