Test-driven learning: intrinsic integration of testing into the CS/SE curriculum

Test-driven learning (TDL) is an approach to teaching com-puter programming that involves introducing and exploring new concepts through automated unit tests. TDL offers the potential of teaching testing for free, of improving program-mer comprehension and ability, and of improving software quality both in terms of design quality and reduced defect density. This paper introduces test-driven learning as a pedagogi-cal tool. It will provide examples of how TDL can be incor-porated at multiple levels in computer science and software engineering curriculum for beginning through professional programmers. In addition, the relationships between TDL and test-driven development will be explored. Initial evidence indicates that TDL can improve student comprehension of new concepts while improving their test-ing skills with no additional instruction time. In addition, by learning to construct programs in a test-driven manner, students are expected to be more likely to develop their own code with a test-driven approach, likely resulting in improved software designs and quality