DevCoach: Supporting Students Learning the Software Development Life Cycle with a Generative AI powered Multi-Agent System
The software development life cycle (SDLC) is vital for ensuring the quality of software systems. However, learning SDLC concepts presents unique challenges, such as the need for effective collaboration, real-time interaction, and access to diverse skill sets represented in software development teams. To address these problems, we present DevCoach, a multi-agent system designed to support students learning the SDLC. DevCoach allows students to interact with generative AI powered agents simulating the different roles in the software development team. Through a user study ($n = 20$), we evaluate the system’s effectiveness in enhancing learning, impact on SDLC deliverable quality, and support for Community of Inquiry (CoI) factors necessary for creating an effective and supportive learning environment. Our results reveal that students using DevCoach achieved significantly higher learning gains and improved task completion rates across all SDLC phases. The system also supports factors from the CoI framework, with perceived social presence showing the greatest improvement. Participants highlighted the immediate, context-aware feedback, the active and interactive learning environment, and the diverse expertise provided by the different roles within the multi-agent team. These findings demonstrate the potential of generative AI to enhance software engineering education by making it more effective, engaging, and interactive, providing students with collaborative and practical learning experiences.
Mon 23 JunDisplayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change
14:00 - 15:30 | Student Motivation and Societal ContextSoftware Engineering Education at Sirius Chair(s): Sonja Hyrynsalmi LUT University | ||
14:00 20mTalk | An Interdisciplinary approach to holistic engineering course development: Framework and Practice Software Engineering Education Jin Zhang School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Jun Li School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Southwest Jiaotong University, Yihong Fan Institute of Education, XIAMEN University, Li Hao School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Naiqi Yang School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University | ||
14:20 20mTalk | Exploring the Untapped: Student Perceptions and Participation in OSS Software Engineering Education Italo Santos Northern Arizona University, Katia Felizardo Federal Technological University of Paraná, Bianca Trinkenreich Colorado State University, Daniel M. German University of Victoria, Igor Steinmacher NAU RESHAPE LAB, Marco Gerosa Northern Arizona University Pre-print | ||
14:40 20mTalk | DevCoach: Supporting Students Learning the Software Development Life Cycle with a Generative AI powered Multi-Agent System Software Engineering Education | ||
15:00 20mTalk | Factors Influencing Gender Representation in IT Faculty Programmes: Insights with a Focus on Software Engineering in a Nordic Context Software Engineering Education Cristina Martinez Montes Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Jonna Johansson Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Emrik Dunvald Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg Pre-print | ||
15:20 10mTalk | Empirical Study and Vision for a Holistic Serious Game Platform for Software Engineering Education Software Engineering Education Niklas Meissner Institute of Software Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Sandro Speth Institute of Software Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Steffen Becker University of Stuttgart, Uwe Breitenbücher Reutlingen University | ||
Sirius is located just behind the registration desk.
Facing the registration desk, its entrance is on the right.