The work-reflection-learning cycle - Department of Computer and ...

Introduction
to help the students reflect on their project process. However, there is a tendency that
such activities are conducted only half-heartedly, being perceived as school assignments
rather than part of the „real work‟. This indicates a learning potential left partially
unexploited.
How work and reflection are, and could be, supported and connected in SE student
projects, taking into account the role of tools, is the problem domain (Figure 2) to be
explored in this thesis. The domain is approached from different angles, framed in the
research contexts of CSCW, TEL/CSCL and SE education.
Figure 2: The problem domain of the PhD thesis
1.2 Problem refinement and research questions
The main research question for the PhD work is:
How can work and reflection be supported and bridged in software
engineering student projects, taking into account the use of
collaboration tools?
The refinement of the main research question into a set of research questions guiding
the investigation of the problem domain was based on the following research strategy:
• Start by examining current practices of work in student SE teams (particularly
stressing the role of collaboration technology) and thereby identify challenges to
work and learning
• Provide solutions to the identified challenges, and evaluate these solutions.
3