Blending Project-Based and in-IDE Learning: The Kotlin Onboarding Course for Enhanced Programming Skills

Anastasiia Birillo, Ilya Vlasov, and Yaroslav Golubev

July, 2025. Accepted to ITiCSE'25 (A).

Abstract. Project-Based Learning (PBL) emphasizes real-world problem-solving and critical thinking, while in-IDE learning integrates education directly into professional Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), promoting focus and skill development. This paper introduces the Kotlin Onboarding in-IDE project-based course, which combines the advantages of both approaches. Covering CS1 concepts in Kotlin, it targets students with prior programming experience who are adopting Kotlin as a secondary language. Published on JetBrains Marketplace and integrated into university curricula, the course has received positive feedback and shown high engagement.