Integrating project-based learning in mobile development course to enhance student learning experience

In the 21st century workplace and in academia, success requires more than basic knowledge and skills. In a project, students learn how to take initiative and responsibility, build their confidence, solve problems, work in teams, communicate ideas, and manage themselves more effectively. Project-Based Learning (PBL) is an instructional pedagogy that helps to build all these standards. Hence, we choose to integrate PBL in an undergraduate Mobile Development course that can play a significant role in creating the next-generation workforce equipped with mobile application development skills and other required skills mentioned above. In this paper, we report on our experience with integrating PBL in an upper-level mobile development course that achieves our teaching goals, helps motivate student learning, and increases student satisfaction. Here, we present an overview of our approach, course outline, course module design, outcomes, and student feedback. The focus group discussions described here highlight the positive experience of using PBL, lessons learned by the instructor, limitations, and few pitfalls.