Complete thesis - Murdoch University

The lack of alignment between the actuality of practice in the discipline and the instructionaldesign supposed to model it creates an incorrect learning environment. This poor fit betweenthe characteristics of the domain and those of the learning model, can partly explain theinadequacy of formal education in training competent RE practitioners. If this is so, asolution can be proposed through the development of a new framework for RE education.This framework is also discussed in Chapter 3.This study has proposed three intervention strategies for addressing these issues in an ActionResearch-based project. Chapter 4 discusses the methodological background for this studyand the choices made. Chapter 5 describes the research design in concrete terms.Figure 9.1: Education for RE – the Action Research cyclesEach intervention strategy is to address specific areas and, through feedback on the reflection,strategies are refined for the next cycle to address the issues identified. Figure 9.1 illustratesthe cycles of the project. These were undertaken within the context of a unit in RequirementsEngineering within the School of Engineering at Murdoch University over the period 2002to 2005. Chapters 6 to 8 describe the interactions undertaken (summarised in Table 9.1),and discuss interpretations of the data. A summary of this research as a completed ActionResearch project (and hence discussing each cycle) has been accepted for publication asChapter 8 in Lowry and Turner (in press) (Armarego, in press).390