Incorporate Cross-Course Knowledge Integration into Computing Education

Abstract

This research to practice full paper describes our cross-course knowledge integration approach, which uses a project-based learning environment. The structure and instructional pedagogies of some of our data management concentration courses in our department have not changed in a long time. Most of our data management courses cover theoretical knowledge without showing their practical applications. As a result, students don't find those courses interesting enough. In addition, none of our data management courses require cross-course interactions, which is the current instructional pedagogical direction. With the goal of addressing these issues and improving student learning, faculty employed a cross-course knowledge integration model to teach the advanced database design course CIT 44400. We redesigned this advanced database course as part of our data management curriculum enhancement also to align with the trends of the IT industry and to enable students to correlate knowledge learned in various courses. In this redesign process, we integrated a project that aligns with industrial projects in this higher-level course curriculum, so that students can integrate and apply theoretical knowledge gained in lower-level courses through participating in a project-based learning approach, using current technology of the field. Evaluation results show crosscourse knowledge integration-based pedagogy gives students comprehensive knowledge that improves students' performance and helps them link and apply knowledge learned in various courses.