Using Tools in Teaching University Courses in Information Technology

Information technology professionals are expected to have working knowledge and skills as today´s college graduates. While building a solid theoretical foundation in computer science or related disciplines is a must, the ability to use related tools is becoming critical as well. In software development, various software tools are routinely used in system design and development. While applied knowledge is highly desirable for information technology graduates, teaching software development while incorporating tools in the learning process is currently very uncommon, and existing educational practices discourage bringing tools into academia. We believe that establishing a framework at the university for implementing tools for teaching will help students understand the role of tools and strengthen their fundamental knowledge