Improving Soft Skills through an Interdisciplinary Approach in a Realistic Context between Education and CS Students in an HCI Course

Maximiliano Paredes-Velasco; Mónica Arnal-Palacián; Jaime Urquiza-Fuentes; Mercedes Martín-Lope. 2023. IEEE Transactions on Education, accepted

Abstract:Contribution: Prior studies on pedagogical methodologies to acquire soft skills have shown that developing collaborative tasks produces positive impact in students’ abilities. In this article, a pedagogical approach based on interdisciplinary practice and realistic problems is proposed to improve students’ teamwork skills. Background: Traditionally, soft skill acquisition has received scarce attention in high education curricula. Consequently, students finish their studies without having developed important competencies, such as communication, conflict resolution and teamwork skills. Intended Outcomes: Students who follow a realistic interdisciplinary approach improve both their soft and hard skills compared to students who follow a traditional collaborative pedagogical methodology. Through the approach proposed, students progress in completing tasks, participating in the team, collaborating in the organization, accepting agreements and taking into account the others’ points of view. Application Design: The experience involved students from two different disciplines, prospective computer science engineers and preservice teachers. They worked together to design an educational application that required prospective engineers to apply Human–Computer Interaction fundamentals. A quasi-experimental study was performed using either knowledge tests or self-assessment pre-post-tests, both subsequently analyzed using quantitative methods. Findings: 1) the prospective CS engineers who followed the interdisciplinary realistic practice approach achieved better learning outcomes than those who did not; 2) the educational context affects teamwork skill development; and 3) students improved their ability to work and participate in the team after the experience.

Self-archived version from URJC's institutional open repository: download PDF.

Increasing students’ responsibility and learning outcomes using partial Flipped Classroom in a Language Processors course

Jaime Urquiza-Fuentes. 2020. IEEE Access, 8, 211211-211223

Abstract: More than twenty years have passed since the term Flipped Classroom was coined. Despite of the increasing interest in this teaching methodology, fields like Computer Science still need more research in order to judge the impact of this methodology in the learning process. This work presents a comparative study between traditional lectures and a partial application of the Flipped Classroom methodology in the subject Language Processors of a Computer Science degree. The study involved 158 students during two weeks and focused on practical contents of the subject. The results show that students in the Flipped Classroom group were more responsible of their learning process, consequently they got significant better learning outcomes either during or at the end of the learning process. Students’ satisfaction was highly positive as well. This work increases the amount of experiments about Flipped Classroom within the field of Computer Science. In addition, this work serves as an example of how to begin the transition from traditional lectures to the Flipped Classroom methodology.

Self-archived version from URJC's institutional open repository: download PDF.

Educational Impact of Syntax Directed Translation Visualization, a Preliminary Study

Damián Nicolalde-Rodríguez & Jaime Urquiza-Fuentes. 2018. 2018 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC), Lisbon, Portugal, 1 - 4 October 2018.

Abstract: This work studies the effect of using software visualization to teach syntax directed translation, a complex topic within compiler subjects. A trial was conducted with 34 students using LISA as the visualization tool. It was divided in two phases. Firstly, student’s experience during compilers construction labs was studied, comparing LISA versus CUP. All participants used both tools and answered a questionnaire. LISA was scored as more motivational and easier to use. Moreover, key theoretical concepts were better identified with LISA. Secondly, a typical lecture (control group) was compared against a lecture using LISA (treatment group). Students were randomly distributed between both groups and answered a knowledge test following the lectures. Results showed that the treatment group significantly outperformed the control group. However, areas for improvement have been detected even in the treatment group. These improvements could be addressed by enhancing the visualization tool with features to increase student engagement..

A Novel Group Engagement Score for Virtual Learning Environments

Jorge Castellanos, Pablo A. Haya , Jaime Urquiza-Fuentes. 2017. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies ( Volume: 10, Issue: 3, July-Sept. 1 2017 ), pp 306-317

Abstract: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education is currently receiving much attention from governments and educational institutions. Our work is based on active learning and video-based learning approaches to support STEM education. Here, we aimed to increase student's engagement through reflective processes that embrace video film-making, and subsequent on-line discussion and evaluation of those videos. We propose a group engagement score that takes into account both individual activity and similarity of participation, thus allowing corrective actions to be taken when unengaged students or groups are identified. We tested these ideas using our own social learning platform that combines the principal features of Social Networks with tools that facilitate collaborative learning design. This platform stimulates students' learning by means of two main reflective processes: participatory production and peer-review. We evaluated this platform and the learning approach it supports in an Object Oriented Programming course and identified interesting differences between group engagement and video ratings. Our principal conclusion is that greater teacher and student awareness of the ongoing activities and group engagement are needed.

Engaging students in creative learning tasks with social networks and video-based learning

Jaime Urquiza-Fuentes, Isidoro Hernán, Estefanía Martín. 2014. 2014 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference Proceedings, pp 1364-1371, Madrid, Spain, 22 - 25 October 2014.

Abstract: Video-based learning is a widely used approach for teaching. This paper investigates how this approach could be improved with other well known methodology: computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL). The integration of both approaches results in a creative and engaging educational activity, collaborative film-making. This task is supported by a platform developed as a social network. During the design of the platform, opinions of teachers and students were taken into account. Both, teachers and students, agreed that this approach helps students to understand threshold concepts. In addition, students identified useful facilities in the platform like group private workspaces or commenting tools. Students’ satisfaction was high, in fact they recommend the use of this approach in more subjects.

Syntax Trees Visualization in Language Processing Courses

F.J. Almeida-Martínez, J. Urquiza-Fuentes. Ninth IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT) 2009, Pages 597-601

Abstract. This paper describes the educational tool VAST. We designed VAST to be used in compiler and language processing courses. The current version allows generating and visualizing syntax trees and their construction process. The main advantages of VAST follow: it is designed to be as independent from the parser generator as possible, it allows students to visualize the behaviour of parsers they develop, and it has an interface designed to easily handle huge syntax trees. We describe different ways of using VAST in educational settings as well as a usability evaluation.

Assessing the Usability of a Cookies-Based Access Monitoring Tool for a CMS

R. Hijón-Neira, J. Urquiza-Fuentes, F. Domínguez-Mateos, J.Á. Velázquez-Iturbide. In Seventh IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT) 2007, Pages 262-264

Abstract. We have developed several tools to allow instructors analyze students' interactions in a Course Management System. In this paper we describe a Systematic Usability Evaluation designed to test the usability of one of these tools. The evaluations were based on task analysis and follow-up studies. We have assessed effectiveness, efficiency, usefulness, ease of use, learnability, and user's satisfaction of the tool. In addition to regular observation and questionnaires, 3- scope video recording was used to provide the evaluator with more information about interactions. The use of this technology helped us in identifying functions and features that need improvement. We describe the three-step method that we have developed and the satisfactory results it has provided us.