Improving software engineering courses with case study approach

Research evidences show that the case study approach has produced a paradigm shift in the way we develop, support, and distribute software. This shift is not only redefining the software industry but also the way we teach and learn in our software engineering courses. Case approach is an opportunity for students to learn the software engineering concepts and skills we teach. This paper discusses case approach as bazaars of learning that offer a meaningful learning context. We present the teaching and learning framework we used in the case study and report on our experiences, lessons learned, and some practical problems we encountered. Our grading and evaluation approach show that the students did relatively well as bug hunters and reporters. Results from two online surveys indicate that students are motivated in participating in case study. And they are willing to participate in project activities long after their graduation. The study reveals one possible way software engineering educators can teach and integrate case approach into their formal curricular structure.