University of Houston-Clear Lake Kaiser Permanente San Jose A Constructionist Approach of Blending SDLC with Project-Based Learning Mohammad A. Rob University of Houston-Clear Lake rob@uhcl.edu Farhana Rob Kaiser Permanente San Jose Farhana.rob@kp.org

Presentation Outline introduction Constructivism vs. Constructionism Constructionist View of Learning Project-Based Learning Systems development life cycle (SDLC) The Blending Framework of SDLC and Project- Based Learning Implementing the framework Conclusion Constructionism and SDLC

INTRODUCTION Constructionism is an educational philosophy which advocates that learning is most effective when the learner constructs a tangible or meaningful product as part of an educational activity. However, the creation process and the end product must be shared with others to get the full benefit of constructionist learning. we blend the systems development life cycle (SDLC) with the project-based learning to develop a framework that can produce the best possible artifact, and ultimately fosters a higher order of knowledge to students. Finally we provide an example of our framework. Constructionism and SDLC

Constructivism vs. constructionism a plenty of confusion between the two learning theories. constructivism is a theory of knowledge that argues that humans generate knowledge and meaning from an interaction between their experiences and ideas. It addresses how children learn at different stages of their development. A significant amount of literature is available on constructivism as compared to constructionism. Constructionism and SDLC

Constructivism (By Jean Piaget) In constructivist learning, the teacher defines a problem to be solved, and the students go on their own way to solve the problem without much of teacher’s intervention. There are many arguments whether this is the best way to learn or teach. constructivist learning is most likely be useful in the early stages of human development and childhood education. however, a significant amount of pedagogical literature can be found in relation to upper-level education. Constructionism and SDLC

Constructionism (by Seymour Papert) Constructionism focuses on the art of learning, and on the significance of making things - an end product or an “artifact” in the learning process. learners engage in a “conversation” with their own or other people’s artifacts, and these conversations boost self-directed learning, and construction of new knowledge. Constructionism and SDLC

Constructionist View of Learning Constructionists assert that learners not only get ideas from teachers, but effectively create ideas. This is facilitated through students’ involvement in the building of external artifacts in a collaborative learning environment. Students learn through participation where they make connections between ideas and areas of knowledge Learning is facilitated by the teacher through coaching, rather than using lectures or step-by- step guidance. Constructionism and SDLC

Constructionist View of Learning Constructionism and SDLC

Four-Step learning process of Constructionism: Connect: Building new Knowledge - Connecting to something that is already known, and being exposed to a new and exciting experience. Construct: Learning by Making - Learn by constructing things in the real world and at the same time construct knowledge in the mind. Contemplate: Taking time to Reflect - What are the things that learnt? The experiences gained in the construction process, which deepen the understanding of a concept. Continue: Being in Flow - Desire to continue, to see what will happen, and to become better at what is doing - perfecting. Constructionism and SDLC

Project-Based Learning Project-based learning (PBL) is a constructionist approach in which a group of students work on a project in a collaborative manner for a certain period of time to produce an outcome - an artifact or a product. The outcome could be an important document, a project plan, an information system, a website, a database, a data warehouse, or anything that the student-group can be proud of! Constructionism and SDLC

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) SDLC is a process by which systems analysts, software engineers, and programmers build information systems. It is composed of a number of clearly defined and distinct work phases which are used to plan, design, build, test, and deliver information systems. Constructionism and SDLC

The Blended Framework of SDLC & Project-Based Learning Project-based learning (PBL) is a constructionist approach as long as it follows the four-step process: Connect, construct, contemplate, and continue. SDLC is also an iterative process through which quality products are developed. We suggest that that SDLC approach should be used in all project-based classroom to develop an end-product or artifact. The approach will provide a much richer learning experience to students. Constructionism and SDLC

The Blended Framework of SDLC & Project-Based Learning At the heart of the diagram is the product that needs to be developed. A product is an outcome of a project that goes through the steps of planning, analysis, design and implementation phases of sdlc. Constructionism and SDLC

Implementing The Framework The constructionist student-group go through the process of presentation and product development in a cycle until the final product or artifact is developed. In each presentation they contemplate for new knowledge, connecting among themselves and with various resources, and develop a new version of the product. Constructionism and SDLC

Implementing The Framework classroom presentation of the group- work is a system approach that has inputs, processing, and outputs. Constructionism and SDLC

Implementing The Framework Creating the presentation by a group has two major ingredients of Papert’s constructionism – the artifact and collaboration. However, Papert emphasized that learning process be shared with others - presenting the artifact. Making the initial artifact is an outcome of the constructivist knowledge of the students. feedback from teacher and fellow students lead to the constructionist approach of learning. Constructionism and SDLC

Constructivist approach: a DFD Example a single case problem is assigned to all groups. each group presented a completely different diagram according to their constructivist view of the problem. some came up with a perfect diagram, some mixed up DFD concepts with database, some changed the scope of the problem and included their own business concepts, and some diverted completely from the rules and concepts of DFD and presented a program flow-chart – their constructivist knowledge! Singe database from previous knowledge Constructionism and SDLC

The Constructivist approach continued.. The various types of diagrams for the same problem prompts a significant discussion in the classroom Between the presenters and the students. Between the presenters and the teacher. Between the teacher and other students. Presenters were asked to modify their presentations according to the suggestions received in the class. Constructionism and SDLC

The Constructionist approach of the DFD Example modified diagram including the necessary data stores, within the problem scope and the DFD rules This is an example of a constructionist learning process. Students constructed the knowledge used in a constructionist classroom in a reflective and collaborative manner. The result will be a life-long learning on DFD - an important design tool of an information system Constructionism and SDLC

conclusion we have briefly discussed the learning theory of constructionism, which advocates that learning is most effective when the learner designs or constructs a tangible or meaningful artifact or product as part of an educational activity. We have argued that constructionism can be applied in a variety of ways, but a semester-long group-project that produces a significant outcome, is the most effective approach of constructionist learning. following the four-step iterative learning process of constructionism, we have suggested that the development process of the project-artifact should follow the phased approach of SDLC that can be applied to any kind of project to develop the best possible artifact or product. this process will provide the best possible knowledge to the students on a subject matter. Constructionism and SDLC