Some myths of software engineering education

Abstract

Based on many years of teaching software engineering, I present a number of lessons I have learned over the years. I do so in the form of a series of myths, the reverse of which can be considered challenges to educators. The overall message I wish to convey is that there's more to software engineering than engineering. The engineering metaphor gives us a lot of useful guidance in shaping our profession. But there's also a downside, in that this goes at the expense of the human, social dimension that is an essential element of our profession.