Experience report on teaching testing through gamification

Abstract

Software systems become increasingly complex and testing is a vital component of the development process. Teaching software testing concepts are now more than ever acknowledged as essential. The aim of this paper is to report on our software testing teaching approach, using game-based activities to engage students and facilitate learning, making them aware of their actions and related testing concepts. Agile testing and Session-Based Test Management are learned through lego-based context, exploratory testing is learned through a dice-based game, and various testing concepts are learned during the laboratory using storification. We report on the results of activities with students, extracting valuable lessons for reproducing this approach in teaching software testing: game-based learning motivated students to participate in the activities, reflection on their actions allowed them to self-discover the testing concepts encapsulated into the game. In addition, we adapt and analyse an industry-like environment that serves as experience for their future careers.