Learning Environment for Problem-based Learning in Teaching Software Components and Service-oriented Architecture

CBSE (Component Based Software Engineering) has been with us nearly two decades since the popularity of object-oriented programming in some form or other. The concept of component abstraction is to increase the abstraction level to provide large chunk of software solution (building blocks), therefore, it results in increased productivity. Sadly, CBSE has been taught in the way we have been teaching programming with smaller abstraction known as functions and procedures. Similarly, OO programming languages have also been taught in a similar manner. Therefore, we have adopted a combination of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Neural Pathway Based Learning (NPL) techniques to teach high level CBSE modelling and concepts, large-scale design, and design for reuse with UML components. One of our main objectives of this paper is to develop a learning technique based on PBL and NPL. The research methodology is based delivery of the developed learning content into existing VLE and to study how well the learning has improved on these two modules delivered on the MSc Software Engineering course. The evaluation by students shows high satisfaction for this semester batch of post-graduate students. This paper presents the learning environment for PBL based learning on our VLE which provides an excellent learning experience for students to learn advanced topics such as software components and service computing.