Teaching software development methods: The case of extreme programming

This panel addresses the teaching of software development methods in undergraduate computer science and software engineering programs. Specifically, the panel focuses on the teaching of Extreme Programming (XP), which is one of the agile software development methods that have received much attention in the last decade. Following its origins in the industrial sector, XP has been explored in computer science and software engineering education, especially in educator symposiums that have been instituted in conferences on agile methods (e.g., [2]). This panel aims at discussing, together with the SIGCSE community, why and how to teach software development methods in general and XP in particular. Since the teaching of XP is discussed in this panel with respect to different courses, we believe that the panel is relevant for all SIGCSE members. The panel consists of three parts: A. Introducing XP: This short demonstration aims at presenting the essence of XP and of its 12 practices. It is conducted through an interactive activity with the attendees. B. Panelists presentations: The panelists highlight the teaching of XP with respect to different course-levels, as is described in what follows: Introductory courses (by Joe Bergin), software engineering courses (by James Caristi), capstone courses (by Yael Dubinsky), and the implementation of pair programming (one of the 12 XP practices) in different courses (by Laurie Williams). We believe that these descriptions may provide quite a comprehensive picture of how XP can be integrated into computer science and software engineering education. In order to strengthen our claim for the introduction of XP into the undergraduate computer science and software engineering curriculum, a cognitive analysis of XP, which explains how XP supports leaning processes, is presented as well (by Orit Hazzan). C. Open discussion with the audience. In what follows we briefly introduce XP and then present the personal statements of the panelists.