Reflective experiential learning : towards improving the communication skills of software engineering students using Active Video Watching

Communication skills are a key competency for software engineers, as they spend a significant amount of time communicating with various stakeholders. Teaching communication skills in a conventional educational context is resource intensive. The university institutions and instructors may lack the capability and resources to provide adequate guidance, feedback and engagement to each student. Today, video-based learning is widely utilised in both formal education and informal learning in a range of settings, and it is regarded as one of the most important tools for creating engaging learning environments. Numerous studies indicate, however, that for students to learn effectively while watching videos, they must engage actively with video content. Therefore, this study employs Active Video Watching (AVW) via AVWSpace to facilitate engagement and teach software engineering students face-to-face meeting communication skills. With reference to the online training, I assess the students' experiences with AVW-Space and the effectiveness of AVW as a reflective strategy for teaching the communication skills. The findings of this study show that only students who commented on videos and rated other students' comments (constructive learners) increased their conceptual knowledge of meeting communication skills, whereas those who were less engaged with the learning materials (passive and active learners) did not. Students noted some difficulties with commenting on videos and rating comments in AVW-Space, which led to recommendations on further improvements to the platform. Overall, the students were enthusiastic about the opportunity to engage in the online training, which allowed them to reflect on prior experiences and learn from their peers, confirming the effectiveness of AVW for learning of soft skills