SEABED: An Open-Source Software Engineering Case-Based Learning Database

Abstract

Case-Based Learning (CBL) is a teaching methodology based on discussing and analyzing real world problems and solutions. A case is like a story, related to a real world situation that sources a number of challenging problems, which have no obvious solutions. There have been various applications of CBL in the fields of Medicine, Law, and Business. However, there are a limited number of evidences related to the application of CBL in the field of Software Engineering (SE). In this paper, we present an open source web application called SEABED (Software Engineering Case-Based Learning Database). The feature set supported by SEABED comprises Case Submission, Case Collection, Case Search, Case Review, and Case Evolution. SEABED aims to develop and evolve a rich repository of SE cases that might become a basis for enabling the students, instructors, practitioners, and experts to enhance their SE knowledge in an effective way. Further, we present our approach to build a vibrant SE case-based learning community that triggers enough activity around SEABED, required for the platform to reach a critical and wider mass. We communicated with several SE educators around the world and received positive responses on SEABED. In order to investigate the effectiveness of the CBL methodology followed by SEABED, we conducted an experimental study at an Institute of National Importance in India. We present the empirical analysis results of this study and explore the impact of CBL on students' learning abilities.