Abstract:
Despite a widely-acknowledged shortage of software developers, and reports of a gap between industry needs and software education, the possible gap between students' need...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Despite a widely-acknowledged shortage of software developers, and reports of a gap between industry needs and software education, the possible gap between students' needs and software development education has not been explored in detail. In their university education, students want to take courses and carry out projects that clearly relate to their lives and their goals. This paper reports on a quantitative study of 297 software development students. The analysis of the results suggests that software development education has a predominantly social relevance to students and also has moderate personal and professional relevance. The following approaches are recommended to improve students' views of the relevance of software development education: use various learning environments; pay special attention to female students, students who did not have IT as a school subject, and students who rate their own academic performance as low; update educators on the latest developments; design programs to appeal to students and to meet societal demands.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 58, Issue: 4, November 2015)
Funding Agency:
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems
Janet Liebenberg received the Master's degree in computer science education from the North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2010, and is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in computer science education at the North-West University.
In 2010, she became a Lecturer with the Computer Science (CS) and Information Systems (IS) Department, North-West University. Her research interests include the teaching and lea...Show More
Janet Liebenberg received the Master's degree in computer science education from the North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2010, and is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in computer science education at the North-West University.
In 2010, she became a Lecturer with the Computer Science (CS) and Information Systems (IS) Department, North-West University. Her research interests include the teaching and lea...View more
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems
Magda Huisman received the Ph.D. degree in computer science (CS) and information systems (IS) from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2001.
She is a Professor with the Department of CS and IS, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. She has published in journals such as Management Information Systems Quarterly, Information & Management, and the Internati...Show More
Magda Huisman received the Ph.D. degree in computer science (CS) and information systems (IS) from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2001.
She is a Professor with the Department of CS and IS, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. She has published in journals such as Management Information Systems Quarterly, Information & Management, and the Internati...View more
Faculty of Education Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Elsa Mentz received the Ph.D. degree in computer science education from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2001.
She is a Professor with the Faculty of Education Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Her research mainly focuses on cooperative learning in computer science (CS) education as well as the fostering of self-directed learning skills...Show More
Elsa Mentz received the Ph.D. degree in computer science education from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2001.
She is a Professor with the Faculty of Education Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Her research mainly focuses on cooperative learning in computer science (CS) education as well as the fostering of self-directed learning skills...View more
Contents Department of Computer Science and Information Systems
Janet Liebenberg received the Master's degree in computer science education from the North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2010, and is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in computer science education at the North-West University.
In 2010, she became a Lecturer with the Computer Science (CS) and Information Systems (IS) Department, North-West University. Her research interests include the teaching and learning of programming and minorities in CS.
Janet Liebenberg received the Master's degree in computer science education from the North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2010, and is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in computer science education at the North-West University.
In 2010, she became a Lecturer with the Computer Science (CS) and Information Systems (IS) Department, North-West University. Her research interests include the teaching and learning of programming and minorities in CS.View more
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems
Magda Huisman received the Ph.D. degree in computer science (CS) and information systems (IS) from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2001.
She is a Professor with the Department of CS and IS, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. She has published in journals such as Management Information Systems Quarterly, Information & Management, and the International Journal of Web & Semantic Technology. Her research interests include the use and effectiveness of systems development methodologies and the diffusion of information technologies.
Magda Huisman received the Ph.D. degree in computer science (CS) and information systems (IS) from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2001.
She is a Professor with the Department of CS and IS, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. She has published in journals such as Management Information Systems Quarterly, Information & Management, and the International Journal of Web & Semantic Technology. Her research interests include the use and effectiveness of systems development methodologies and the diffusion of information technologies.View more
Faculty of Education Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Elsa Mentz received the Ph.D. degree in computer science education from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2001.
She is a Professor with the Faculty of Education Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Her research mainly focuses on cooperative learning in computer science (CS) education as well as the fostering of self-directed learning skills in the CS classroom.
Prof. Mentz is a member of AERA and ACM.
Elsa Mentz received the Ph.D. degree in computer science education from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 2001.
She is a Professor with the Faculty of Education Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Her research mainly focuses on cooperative learning in computer science (CS) education as well as the fostering of self-directed learning skills in the CS classroom.
Prof. Mentz is a member of AERA and ACM.View more
