The Future of Education

Studies show that employees’ motivation at software companies is critical for the outcome of projects and efforts in large [1], and where low motivation correlates with project failure [2]. From views of education it is of interest to motivate educate students, not only from disciplinary skills perspectives, but also from intrinsic points of view, such as, motivation and emotion. Purposes behind this include enhancing students’ employability, but also to emphasize students‘ effective cooperation in group work. The latter is especially critical in contexts of software development, where teamwork is essential to develop software at larger scales. Involving components of both disciplinary knowledge and intrinsic states in learning, is furthermore addressed by Knud Illeris [3], which states that learning involves a complex set of processes. Especially, [3] points out, besides knowledge skills, that also emotion and volition are essential components, as well as interaction, thus forming a three-dimensional space of learning process components.

The authors’ home department offers a 3-year bachelor program in Software Development. Each study year provides theoretical and technical stuff. With this also comes project-oriented courses where students work together to fulfil a project task. For aims of addressing external benefit the course leaders have proposed project themes with elements of IT-support in health contexts. One aim concern awakening intrinsic motivation to students based on empathy for those in special needs.

This contribution aims to study the attitude and learning process of students along Illeris’ three components. Teacher observations, course evaluations and a survey have been conducted through voluntary participation of students. The result shows that students are more motivated, communication is more efficient, and projects are successfully carried out.