Abstract:

Web systems are one of the most important disciplines of information technology having Responsive Web Design (RWD) as the standard approach for web front-end design (Jin, 2017). According to Astigarraga et al. (2010) many graduates enter the workforce with a lack of proficiency in testing, debugging, and analysis in part because academic curricula emphasise development more than testing.

Software testing is a suitable subject to apply hands-on approaches. This study aims to contribute to technological issues in Higher Education. It presents a methodology which integrates the classroom and two different types of laboratory: a PC lab and a device lab. It is a contribution to the software testing area, a teaching-learning methodology developed for RWD evaluation in a formal bachelor’s degree course. In this case, RWD evaluation is a content in the Software Testing module of the Computing Department’s courses at the Institute of Technology Tralee (IT Tralee).

The module is broadly based on the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Foundation level syllabus, on a user-centred design approach, and the Open Device Lab community practices. It is a pragmatic methodology considering the limitations of a formal course in Higher Education: the curriculum, the infrastructure, the number of students and weeks of classes. It is one semester, with 36 hours of contact (1 lecture and 2 practical/workshop per week), 24 directed study hours, and 40 independent study hours; and there is a prerequisite knowledge of Introduction to Programming or equivalent.

The aim of the module is to develop the learners’ understanding of software testing, based on a systematic approach to software testing in the context of the software life cycle, as a branch of software engineering.

The module learning strategies are: lectures on testing theory and principles, class group discussion, practical activities, and also example, problem and case studies specific to course content.

The Department offers four courses: a BSc. in Computing with Software Development; with Game Development; with Digital Media; and in Computer Systems and Networking. All of them have the Software Testing module in the curriculum.

The methodology described here has been made use of by a lecturer, who has expertise in software testing and software quality management, since 2014.

Keywords:

Technological issues in education, classroom and laboratory integration, teaching-learning methodology, Responsive Web Design evaluation, cross-platform-based.