Abstract:

The rapid expansion of blockchain technologies in industry highlights the need for educational strategies that prepare future software engineers to design and implement secure smart contracts. Yet undergraduate students often struggle to connect abstract blockchain concepts with structured software engineering methods and with authentic problem-solving contexts. This paper proposes a pedagogical methodology that integrates established software engineering practices – specifically the Rational Unified Process (RUP) and the Unified Modeling Language (UML) into an experiential and collaborative learning framework for the development of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain.

The methodology adapts a professional development workflow into a learning model suitable for first-cycle university students in computer science and software engineering. It combines visual modeling, iterative design, and requirements analysis with problem-based learning principles, enabling learners to address realistic challenges commonly found in blockchain projects. To promote collaboration and autonomy, the approach incorporates Jigsaw-style learning activities in which students assume complementary roles and jointly construct complete smart-contract solutions.

As a practical learning scenario, we introduce a case study inspired by a gourmet cocoa production chain in Brazil. Students are tasked with designing Ethereum smart contracts capable of storing and retrieving traceability data – such as cocoa type, origin, and physicochemical indicators collected during fermentation and drying processes. This scenario immerses learners in a meaningful problem aligned with industry needs for transparency and trust in agri-food supply chains, encouraging hands-on development, domain exploration, and peer-supported reasoning.

This scenario was carefully conceptualized drawing on the combined expertise of the authors – university professors and blockchain industry professionals. Based on this expert-informed design, the methodology is expected to increase student motivation through engagement with an authentic, industry-aligned context, while enhancing their ability to structure design decisions, articulate reliability constraints, and bridge the gap between UML models and Solidity implementation. The collaborative Jigsaw structure is anticipated to strengthen team communication and clarify distributed responsibilities. Overall, the approach is designed to foster deeper conceptual understanding and stronger practical readiness for emerging blockchain applications.

Keywords:

Problem-Based Learning, Collaborative Learning, Software Engineering Education, Smart Contracts, UML Modeling, Rational Unified Process (RUP), Ethereum Blockchain.