The Groupthink specifjcation exercise: A realistic activity that - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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May 03, 2023 288 likes •362 views

The Groupthink specifjcation exercise: A realistic activity that teaches a challenging topic Michael Ernst MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab http://pag.csail.mit.edu/~mernst/ ICSE 2005 Education Track Michael Ernst, page

SLIDE 1

Michael Ernst, page 1

The Groupthink specifjcation exercise:

A realistic activity that teaches a challenging topic

Michael Ernst

MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab

http://pag.csail.mit.edu/~mernst/

ICSE 2005 Education Track

SLIDE 2

Michael Ernst, page 2

Groupthink: teaching specifjcations

Goal: teach students to read and write specs Problem: specs seem boring and irrelevant

(A problem with current teaching methodology.)

Solution: a fun and realistic group activity, in the form of a gameshow Result: It works!

Students like it Students learn from it

SLIDE 3

Michael Ernst, page 3

Goals in designing the activity

1. Realistic, well-motivated problem

Appears easy, but requires use of a specification

2. Interactive, lively, iterative event

Learn by doing Learn by failing then succeeding

3. Appeal to participants with many backgrounds

Major, computer experience, job experience, ...

SLIDE 4

Michael Ernst, page 4

Schedule of the activity (2 hours)

Introduction to the problem (answering machine) Groupwork (7-10 people) to specify the system Gameshow to evaluate specifications Each team member answers individually; no right answer; points for plurality answer; bonus if whole team agrees Discussion (students describe in their own words) More groupwork to refine specifications Second round of gameshow Prizes and wrap-up discussion

SLIDE 5

Michael Ernst, page 5

What do students learn?

Technical lessons:

rules and priorities
use cases
state diagrams

Group organization (and communication)

choose a leader; don't argue
listen to everyone
make sure everyone understands

Different students learn different lessons

SLIDE 6

Michael Ernst, page 6

Conclusion

Success is due to achieving the goals:

Realistic, well-motivated problem
Interactive, lively, iterative event
Appeal to participants with many backgrounds

The Groupthink specification exercise is available from mernst@csail.mit.edu

Includes lecture slides, handout, scoring

spreadsheet, etc.

Has been used outside MIT; over 600 students