Abstract:

Agile methodologies such as Scrum can be successfully taught using project-based learning methods. However, the previous theoretical lessons can be complemented with simulation activities so that students quickly understand how the methodology works and can confidently face the development of a project in the practical sessions. These simulation activities can be developed in the context of game-based learning so that they incorporate game features and provide more playful and insight learning for students. Additionally, these types of activities can be useful in other contexts such as microcredentials, business courses, or adapted for on-line teaching.

This paper shows a teaching experience in the field of agile methods in which, through various simulation activities designed following game-based learning approach, the principles and skills of Scrum are learned in a short session of about five hours. A game with lego pieces is used for the face-to-face simulation and another on-line game for simulation in distance learning. The purpose of the games is cooperative and their main advantage is that they allows the software development process to be simulated in a short period of time of approximately one session, resulting in a playful and rewarding training for students. The experience has been reproduced in different academic courses at different curricular levels and in companies, both face-to-face and on-line, which allows us to conclude that there are small differences but reinforces the learning value of the experience. Finally, the paper details a list of good practices and lessons learned.

Keywords:

Agile Methods, Scrum, Game-Based Learning, Simulation Activities, Lego, Distance Education.