Tool usage within a globally distributed software development course and implications for teaching

There have been many case studies looking at the work processes and use of tools within globally distributed software engineering teams. These studies usually use interviews, or other qualitative methods to ascertain their results. Additionally they may use data mining on particular modes of communication. In this paper, we report from observations in a Global Software Development class where students were free to choose the tools that best suited their needs, with minimal constraints. We discuss tool usage in three student teams and show how communication can be visually compared and correlated with implementation effort. We provide GSD teaching implications for tool selection and for monitoring progress of student teams. Finally, we suggest as a point of discussion that lightweight tools are not only preferred by students, but provide the same learning effect as more feature-complex collaboration infrastructures.