Using a real-life setting to combine social and technical skills

Our students are highly competent in the technical area, but have little training in the non-technical area. This paper describes a course that is designed to increase the students' ability to apply their technical skills in a professional way. Projects with real, low in IT skills, users are used to make the issue of being professional concrete. The aspect of communication, both between colleagues and between users of a product, is chosen as a theme. Relevant theory is introduced as close to the point in time when needed in the real project. This paper give the general setting of the course and observations from students and teachers about how well the goals are achieved.