Towards a case-based learning approach to support software architecture education

Abstract: Software architecture education remains challenging for instructors, students, and software industry professionals. Several initiatives have been proposed to mitigate the inherent challenges, including games, supporting tools, collaborative courses, and hands-on projects. Case-based learning has been introduced in software architecture, and its benefits are recognized. However, choosing the right cases that cover the stated learning objectives and developing learning activities to achieve high-order learning are also challenging. The main goal of this paper is to present a case-based learning approach that guides the development of learning objectives, the finding and selection of real-world software architecture cases, and the design of instructional activities. We applied our approach in software architecture related courses during the past few years. The results show that it can leverage the ways to adequately explore cases for educational purposes while also motivating instructors and students to the software architecture education.