Introducing research practices in software projects for undergraduate students

Using research-based teaching-learning methodologies in Computer Science programs is a challenge. Achieving the balance between the required technical knowledge and scientific rigor in young professionals is difficult in the University. The goal of this paper is to help baccalaureate level teachers and students employ a research-based teaching-learning methodology through the introduction of research practices by way of developing software projects. We propose taking advantage of computer science courses that include a software project to introduce research practices related to: the problem, the research goal, the related works, the proposed approach, the methodology, and the evaluation of the project. In addition, we propose that the results of the software project be presented in a scientific paper format. A research workshop was conducted for undergraduate students. We concluded that students can identify the main sections of a research project, can recognize the main digital databases to search scientific papers, consider developing research-oriented competencies pertinent to their professional training, and emphasize the need for more activities of this nature in the curriculum.