Software engineering at a distance

I describe my experiences in teaching a first graduate level software engineering course using distance education. Held during the spring semester of 1997, Software Engineering 1 (SE1) was taught to 20 local students in Hartford Connecticut, and 15 tape-delay students located at eight different sites across the country. The distance learning environment, coupled with the fact that the local and tape-delay students were on a variety of viewing schedules presented a myriad of challenges to effective instruction. This paper details the contents and approach used in SE1, and describes the distance learning experience from both the instructor's perspective and the students' viewpoints. I outline my perceived impact of the course, and summarize student response to the course including verbatim student feedback. Based on the mixed results that both my students and I experienced, I conclude the paper with a discussion of changes I would like to make the next time SE1 is taught via distance education.