Applying SCRUM in a Physics II Undergraduate Course: Effect on Student Progression and Soft Skills Development

Abstract

The everchanging higher education environment, especially after the impact of COVID-19, dictates the need of innovative, engaging, and efficient teaching methods along with promoting soft skills among the students. Scrum offers a framework for effective teamwork and it has been previously applied in higher education for enhancing collaborative learning and the development of skills. This paper will describe how Scrum was applied to a Physics II undergraduate course during the spring semester 2021, where classes were given online due to covid-19 imposed restrictions. The focus of this experiment was twofold. Firstly, we aimed at investigating the feasibility of Scrum under remote teaching conditions. Secondly, we observed the students’ progress with the learning objectives of the course, along with the advancement soft skills among the students participating in the experiment. We conclude our presentation with feedback collected both from the teachers and the students involved in the experiment.