PBL+DataSet: Group Programming Projects in the First Year of University

Abstract

This article analyzes a didactic proposal based on the Project and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) methodology, implemented in the second dictation of Programming II within the Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, aiming to acknowledge students' opinions about the experience. In this case, a guided group project was proposed, using specifically designed Datasets to practice fundamental concepts such as strings, tuples, lists, dictionaries, and files. The focus was on working with large volumes of data, which require computational solutions. Python was used along with the streamlit module to develop applications integrating both front-end and back-end components. At the end of the course, a survey was conducted with 35 students to gather their feedback. The responses reflected a positive perception: the Datasets were seen as novel, simple, and relevant due to their connection with real-world data. However, some difficulties were also reported, particularly with reading CSV files, extracting data, and handling missing values. In conclusion, the proposal proved to be innovative and beneficial, strengthening both technical skills and collaborative problem-solving abilities.