FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION-SUPPORTED APPROACH TO REQUIREMENTS ELICITATION FOR COURSEWARE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Ever since Collaborative Learning (CL) was identified as one of the technology enablers for the Smart School in Malaysia, only general Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) applications have been developed. These application solutions have yet to fill the gap in the technical challenge requirements for learning and solving problems in groups. This research investigates the current CL and CSCL situations in Malaysia through a survey carried out among schoolteachers. The results show that (a) teachers are practising CL without the aid of CSCL applications; (b) teachers’ involvement as domain experts in courseware development is minimal; (c) teachers are willing to be involved in courseware development, especially, at the problem analysis and identification stages. From the software engineering perspective, this stage encompasses the core task in requirements elicitation activity, and studies have shown that user involvement is a key factor when gathering the requirements. The survey results also indicate that the teachers prefer to be involved in discussion sessions such as in Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Further investigation was made to find out how courseware developers in Malaysia conduct the requirements elicitation activity. The findings indicate that the courseware developers give low priority to user involvement. Interestingly, they use the FGD technique when consulting users. This is also the technique that the teachers prefer. Only few of the courseware developers complete the user requirements document (URD), as many of them felt that they do not have enough time, do not have an elicitation tool, and hardly meet all stakeholders. Thus, a requirements elicitation tool is needed. This tool should use the FGD technique, which is the preferred technique among the courseware developers and teachers. This will lead to URD completeness. A Focus Group Discussion model for Requirements iii Elicitation (FGDRE) was formulated. It is used as a basis in the design of a web-based requirements elicitation tool using FGD, called FGD-RElicit. The tool provides an FGDfacilitated environment for all stakeholders to participate in the elicitation process, which spans three stages, namely, identification, elaboration and refinement, and integration of viewpoints and concerns, in an adapted multi-viewpoint process. FGD-RElicit is used in eliciting user requirements for developing courseware, in particular, CL applications. In the development of the courseware, the teachers must be involved as the domain experts. FGD-RElicit was evaluated by teachers from several local public schools, as well as the courseware developers, on its usability and the fulfillment of the development objectives, using Goal Question Metrics (GQM) approach. The results of the evaluation show that FGD-RElicit has demonstrated its potential use in eliciting requirements.