Point/Counterpoint

Author

Singer, J. ; Vigder, M.

Author_Institution

Nat. Res. Council Canada, ON, Canada

Volume

26

Issue

5

fYear

2009

Firstpage

54

Lastpage

57

Abstract

Tools help end users develop software, but they´re effective only when combined with a basic understanding of software engineering. Given this proliferation of new and old capabilities, how will end users exploit the programming possibilities available to them? Will tools to support end users be enough - or should everyone be taught some form of software engineering literacy? We believe we need a new literacy: not just reading, writing, and arithmetic, but the 3 Rs + SE. With such an education, end users will have greater success customizing environments and manipulating digital information correctly and thoughtfully.

Keywords

computer science education; programming; reverse engineering; software tools; teaching; 3 Rs; SE education; digital information manipulation; end-user programming teaching; reading-writing-and-arithmetic; software development; software engineering literacy; software environment customization; software tools; software understanding; Application software; Cellular phones; Collaborative software; Collaborative tools; Collaborative work; Control systems; Engineering management; Programming profession; Software engineering; Software tools; configuration management; debugging; end-user programming; software engineering; software maintenance; software testing; version control;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Software, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0740-7459

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/MS.2009.135

Filename

5222795