Skip to main content
Log in

Challenges to Applying Role Playing in Software Engineering Education: A Taxonomy Derived from a Rapid Literature Review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
SN Computer Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Role Playing (RP) serves as an instructional approach to enrich the learning experience for students and boost their learning by the effective application of their theoretical knowledge within a practical context. In Software Engineering Education (SEE), the utilization of RP proves beneficial in fostering the development of skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking among students and aids them in comprehending the intricacies and hurdles inherent in software development, instilling the significance of collaborative efforts and effective communication. To use role playing effectively, SEE teachers need to understand the challenges that arise from using it. This paper presents a taxonomy, resulting from the analysis of a rapid review developed to identify these challenges: a thorough review of relevant articles indexed by well-known digital libraries (Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore) which, after inclusion/exclusion criteria, yielded a total of 23 papers. This taxonomy provides an organized structure for understanding the challenges in implementing Role Playiing (RP) activities in the context of Software Engineering Education (SEE).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Not applicable.

Notes

  1. A simulation is a form of role play.

  2. The Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) describes generally accepted knowledge about software engineering.

  3. Taxonomy image taken from https://courses.dcs.wisc.edu/design-teaching/PlanDesign_Fall2016/2-Online-Course-Design/2_Learning-Objectives-Alignment/6_objectives_blooms-taxonomy.html

References

  1. Shaw M. Software engineering education: a roadmap. In: Proceedings of the Conference on the Future of Software Engineering. 2000. pp. 371-380.

  2. Ouhbi S, Pombo N. Software engineering education: challenges and perspectives. In: 2020 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON). IEEE. 2020. pp. 202-209.

  3. Cheville RA. Linking capabilities to functionings: adapting narrative forms from role-playing games to education. High Educ. 2016;71(6):805–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Snow C. Dragons in the stacks: an introduction to role-playing games and their value to libraries. Collect Build. 2008;27(2):63–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Castro LM. Role-playing software architecture styles. In: 20th IEEE International Conference on Software Architecture (ICSA’23). 2023.

  6. Bonwell CC, Eison JA. Active learning: creating excitement in the classroom. Washington: The George Washington University; 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Northern Illinois University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning: Role playing. In: Instructional Guide for University Faculty and Teaching Assistants. Retrieved from https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide (2012). Accessed 4th Nov 2023

  8. Candolle, A.P. de: Théorie élémentaire de la botanique; ou, Exposition des principes de la classification naturelle et de l'art de décrire et d'étudier les végétaux. Déterville, Paris (1813). https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.39705

  9. Usman M, Britto R, Börstler J, Mendes E. Taxonomies in software engineering: a systematic mapping study and a revised taxonomy development method. Inf Softw Technol. 2017;85:43–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2017.01.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Britto R, Usman M. Bloom’s taxonomy in software engineering education: A systematic mapping study. In: 2015 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). IEEE, El Paso, TX, USA. 2015. pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2015.7344084.

  11. Pizard S, Vallespir D. Developing a taxonomy for software engineering education through an empirical approach. CLEI Electronic J. 2020. https://doi.org/10.19153/cleiej.23.2.5.

  12. Fagerholm F, Felderer M, Fucci D, Unterkalmsteiner M, Marculescu B, Martini M, Wallgren Tengberg LG, Feldt R, Lehtelä B, Nagyváradi B, Khattak J. Cognition in software engineering: a taxonomy and survey of a half-century of research. ACM Comput Surv. 2022;54(11s):226:1-226:36. https://doi.org/10.1145/3508359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bourque P, Buglione L, Abran A, April A. Bloom’s taxonomy levels for three software engineer profiles. In: Eleventh Annual International Workshop on Software Technology and Engineering Practice. IEEE, Amsterdam. 2003. pp. 123-129. https://doi.org/10.1109/STEP.2003.6.

  14. Britto R, Wohlin C, Mendes E. An extended global software engineering taxonomy. J Softw Eng Res Dev. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40411-016-0029-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Spoletini P, Parizi RM. Bias-aware guidelines and fairness-preserving taxonomy in software engineering education. In: 2018 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). 2018. pp. 1-4, IEEE, San Jose, CA, USA. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2018.8659178.

  16. Cartaxo B, Pinto G, Soares S. Rapid reviews in software engineering. In: Felderer M, Travassos G, editors. Contemporary empirical methods in software engineering. Cham: Springer; 2020. p. 13. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32489-6_13.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Khangura S, Konnyu K, Cushman R, Grimshaw J, Moher D. Evidence summaries: the evolution of a rapid review approach. Syst Rev. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-1-10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hamel C, Michaud A, Thuku M, Skidmore B, Stevens A, Nussbaumer-Streit B, Garritty C. Defining rapid reviews: a systematic scoping review and thematic analysis of definitions and defining characteristics of rapid reviews. J Clin Epidemiol. 2021;129:74–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.09.041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. King VJ, Stevens A, Nussbaumer-Streit B, et al. Performing rapid reviews. Syst Rev. 2022;11:151. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-022-02011-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Akarsu Z, Metin Ö.O, Gungor D, Yilmaz M. Towards a Role Playing Game for Exploring the Roles in Scrum to Improve Collaboration Problems. In: Larrucea X, Santamaria I, O’Connor R, Messnarz R (eds) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. EuroSPI 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science. Springer, Cham. 2018. 896: 267-278. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97925-0_21.

  21. Svensson RB, Regnell B. Is role playing in requirements engineering education increasing learning outcome? Requirements Eng. 2017;22:475–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-016-0248-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ntokos K. Swords and sorcery: a structural gamification framework for higher education using role-playing game elements. Res LearnTechnol. 2019. https://doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v27.227.

  23. Rahman M, Watanobe Y, Rage U, Thang TC, Paik I.: Impact of Practical Skills on Academic Performance: A Data-Driven Analysis. IEEE Access 9, 139975-139993 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3119145

  24. Veldthuis M, Koning M, Stikkolorum DR. A quest to engage computer science students: using Dungeons & Dragons for developing soft skills. In: Proceedings of the 10th Computer Science Education Research Conference. 2021. pp. 1-8.

  25. Srisuwan P. Role-play as an educational tool in auditing skills. In: 2018 5th International Conference on Business and Industrial Research (ICBIR). Bangkok, Thailand. 2018. pp. 613-617. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBIR.2018.8391271.

  26. Rojas AE, Mejía-Moncayo C. Design of a course oriented to the comprehension of Agile methods based on teamwork, role-play, and class project with a real client. In: 2019 International Conference on Virtual Reality and Visualization (ICVRV). Hong Kong, China. 2019. pp. 212-216. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICVRV47840.2019.00051.

  27. Hidalgo M, Astudillo H, Castro LM. Challenges to use role playing in software engineering education: A rapid review. In: Florez H, Leon M (eds) Applied informatics. ICAI 2023. Communications in Computer and Information Science. Springer, Cham. 2024. 1874: 187-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46813-1_17.

  28. Kolb, D., Kolb, A.: The Kolb Learning Style Inventory 4.0: Guide to Theory, Psychometrics, Research & Applications (2013).

  29. Hidalgo M, Astudillo H, Castro LM. How software architects learn: a pilot study of their learning style in Kolb’s Learning Styles Inventory. In: 2023 42nd IEEE International Conference of the Chilean Computer Science Society (SCCC). IEEE, Concepcion, Chile. 2023. pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1109/SCCC59417.2023.10315706.

  30. Rueda S, Panach JI, Cabotà JB, Valverde F. Applying role-playing game in software development subjects. In: ICERI2016 Proceedings. 2016. pp. 3532-3538.

  31. Ouhbi S. Evaluating role playing efficiency to teach requirements engineering. In: 2019 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON). IEEE, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2019. pp. 1007-1010. https://doi.org/10.1109/EDUCON.2019.8725045.

  32. Nakamura T, Kai U, Tachikawa Y. Requirements engineering education using expert system and role-play training. In: 2014 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment and Learning for Engineering (TALE). IEEE, Wellington, New Zealand 2014. pp. 375-382. https://doi.org/10.1109/TALE.2014.7062566.

  33. Kobrinskii BA. Role playing as a method of learning in knowledge engineering. In: 2022 VI International Conference on Information Technologies in Engineering Education (Inforino). IEEE, Moscow, Russian Federation. 2022. pp. 1-5.

  34. Hidalgo Montenegro C, Astudillo H, Gómez Álvarez MC. ATAM-RPG: A role-playing game to teach architecture trade-off analysis method (ATAM). In: 2017 XLIII Latin American Computer Conference (CLEI). IEEE, Cordoba, Argentina 2017. pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1109/CLEI.2017.8226416.

  35. Balaban, M., Maraee, A., Sturm, A., Jelnov, P.: A pattern-based approach for improving model quality. Software & Systems Modeling 14 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-013-0390-0

  36. Barajas A, Álvarez FJ, Muñoz J, Santaolaya R, Collazos CA, Hurtado JA. Verification and validation model for short serious game production. IEEE Lat Am Trans. 2016;14(4):2007–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Benitti FBV. Software engineering role-playing game: an interactive game for software engineering education. Int J Adv Res Comput Sci. 2011;2(2):6–9.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Mahnic V. A capstone course on agile software development using Scrum. IEEE Trans Educ. 2012;55(1):99–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Zuppiroli S, Ciancarini P, Gabbrielli M. A role-playing game for a software engineering lab: Developing a product line. In: 2012 IEEE 25th Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training. IEEE, Nanjing, China. 2012. pp. 13-22. https://doi.org/10.1109/CSEET.2012.39.

  40. Bollin A, Reçi E, Szabó C, Szabóová V, Siebenhofer R. Applying a maturity model during a software engineering course: how planning and task-solving processes influence the course performance. J Syst Softw. 2018;144:397–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2018.07.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Decker A, Simkins D. Leveraging role play to explore software and game development process. In: 2016 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). IEEE, Erie, PA, USA. 2016. pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2016.7757685.

  42. Monasor MJ, Vizcaíno A, Piattini M. Cultural and linguistic problems in GSD: a simulator to train engineers in these issues. J Soft Evol Process. 2012;24:707–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/smr.562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Gulec U, et al. Applying virtual reality to teach the software development process to novice software engineers. IET Soft. 2021;15(6):464–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Maxim BR, Brunvand S, Decker A. Use of role-play and gamification in a software project course. In: 2017 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). IEEE, Indianapolis, IN, USA. 2017. pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2017.8190501.

  45. Aripin M, Hamzah R, Setya P, Hisham M, Ishar M. Unveiling a new taxonomy in education field. Int J Eval Res Educ. 2020;9:524–30. https://doi.org/10.11591/IJERE.V9I3.20458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Skillicorn D. A taxonomy for computer architectures. Computer. 1988;21:46–57. https://doi.org/10.1109/2.86786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work has been partially supported by Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María under grant “Programa de Incentivo a la Iniciación Científica” PIIC-USM 062/2023.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

All authors have contributed to the current work, which constitutes part of Mauricio Hidalgo’s doctorate research work, for which Dr. Astudillo and Dr. Castro are PhD supervisors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mauricio Hidalgo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Beyond the information included in the previous subsection, authors declare no Conflict of interest.

Research Involving Human and/or Animals

Not applicable.

Informed Consent

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hidalgo, M., Astudillo, H. & Castro, L.M. Challenges to Applying Role Playing in Software Engineering Education: A Taxonomy Derived from a Rapid Literature Review. SN COMPUT. SCI. 5, 694 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-024-03044-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-024-03044-4

Keywords

Navigation