From Theory to Interpreting the Practice: Exploring the Role-play to Teach DevOps

[Context] While Role-play (RP) has recently attracted increased attention due its capability as an active learning method in Software Engineering (SE) education, a research gap remains regarding its adoption within the context of DevOps, a critical area in SE. [Objective] This study investigates a RP-based teaching model for DevOps. [Method] We follow an empirical, experimental, and descriptive research approach, employing structured questionnaires and participant observation based on three RP sessions (n=30 students). Data analysis included Descriptive Statistics and Thematic Content Analysis. [Results] In summary, 90% of the students agreed that RP, when compared to an usual DevOps class, was more captivating. Moreover, 93.3% of them agreed that RP contributed to their learning. Pair-based learning and integration of industry tools were highly favored by students according to qualitative results. [Contributions] We offer an RP-based teaching model that encourages collaboration and technical proficiency in SE students. Our proposal can also serve as a potential source of inspiration for companies designing in-company training processes.