Applying User Experience and User-Centered Design Software Processes in Undergraduate Mobile Application Development Teaching

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel undergraduate mobile app course integrating agile, UX, and UCD methods, resulting in improved product quality and stakeholder satisfaction through a two-phase structure involving theory and practical client projects.

Contribution

It introduces a tailored agile process combining Scrum, Extreme Programming, UX, and UCD for teaching mobile app development in undergraduate courses.

Findings

Students and clients found value in the developed apps.

The process enhanced Quality in Use features.

Projects extended with client agreement since 2019.

Abstract

Agile methods in undergraduate courses have been explored by various authors looking to close the gap between industry and professional profiles. We have structured an Android application development course based on a tailored agile process for development of educational software tools. This process is based on both Scrum and Extreme Programming in combination with User Experience (UX) and User-Centered Design (UCD) approaches. The course is executed in two phases: the first half of the course's semester presents theory on agile and mobile applications development, the latter half is managed as a workshop where students develop for an actual client. The introduction of UX and UCD exploiting the close relationship with stakeholders expected from an agile process can enhance Quality in Use features. Since 2019 two of the projects have been extended in agreement between the client and students. Students, clients and users have found value in the generated products.