Enhancing project-based learning: Variations on mentoring

Abstract

Project-based learning is an essential part of a software engineer's education. The learning achieved through projects can be improved through structured interaction between more experienced students and those students encountering their first software engineering project. In this paper, we report on our experience over three years with trials of several forms of interaction between undergraduate students at the third- and fourth-year levels. This mentoring involved full year project subjects at both year levels. We discuss the problems encountered during these trials, and describe how the interaction was varied in response. We examine the benefits achieved through this interaction and provi..