Forum for Advancing Software engineering Education (FASE) Volume 10 Number 03 (122nd Issue) - March 15, 2000 907 subscribers Note: If you have problems with the format of this document, try An HTML version of this issue is available at ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Table of Contents Letter From the FASE Staff: A New Addition, Plus More Listserv Info Upcoming Topics News Items SEN Article: "A Whole New Kind of Engineering" SIGCSE Survey, TCEA Discussion on Company-Based Certification Patent on Flexible User Interface design Countries with Subscribers to FASE Position Openings University of Auckland - Chair in Software Engineering Contact and General Information about FASE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ By: Don Bagert (Academic/Misc Editor) Letter From the FASE Staff: A New Addition, Plus More Listserv Info On behalf of the FASE editorial staff, I would like to welcome David Carter as the new Industry Editor for FASE. David will coordinate items in the corporate/government area. He is Principal Program Manager for Software Engineering Education at the College of Technology of Motorola University in Schaumburg, Illinois USA. I am sure that David will have a great and positive impact on FASE in the months to come! At the same time, we would like to bid a fond farewell to Kathy Beckman, who since 1995 has served as the first Industry Editor FASE ever had. Kathy is stepping down due to other obligations, but hopefully, we will see more contributions from her at some point when she is able to =) Watch for another addition to the FASE staff in the near future! Also: Last issue, the new listserv for FASE and FASE-TALK were discussed. Besides, the standard email method, subscriptions can also be maintained through the Web via http://lyris.acs.ttu.edu. From there, click on "TTU Faculty Mailing Lists", and then either "fase" or "fase-talk", depending on which list you desire. If you have any problems with new listserv, please contact me at Don.Bagert@ttu.edu. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ By: Don Bagert (Academic/Misc Editor) Upcoming Topics May 2000: SWECC Survey on Software Engineering Academic Programs Guest Editor: Kenneth Modesitt University of Michigan-Dearborn modesitt@umich.edu July 2000: The Importance of Math and Problem-Solving in SE Guest Editor: Peter B. Henderson Butler University phenders@butler.edu For more information about a particular issue's topic, please contact the corresponding guest editor. Please refer to the article format provided at the end of each issue when making submissions, which are always made directly to the guest editor. If you are interested in being a guest editor, or have any suggestions for future topics, please contact me at Don.Bagert@ttu.edu. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ News Items ###################################################################### By: Don Bagert (Academic/Misc Editor) SEN Article: "A Whole New Kind of Engineering" The January 2000 issue of ACM Software Engineering Notes contains the article "A Whole New Kind of Engineering" on pages 109-113. (The author is listed as "L.B.S. Raccoon", which is a pseudonym.) In it, he suggests that "Software engineers should take their time towards certification [and licensing]. They should work on a scale of decades, rather than years." The article looks at the different types of licensing mechanisms for engineering, and suggests that an "All-Engineering-Combined" approach, with software in some application domains being unregulated, some being regulated by the government, and some overseen by professional societies, "seems a natural long-term result". ###################################################################### By: Don Bagert (Academic/Misc Editor) SIGCSE Survey, TCEA Discussion on Company-Based Certification [This is the text of a message recently sent to the SIGCSE.MEMBERS listserv.] About a month ago, I did a survey of the SIGCSE.MEMBERS listserv for concerning high school courses targeted at students earning company-based certification. This was in preparation for a session at the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) annual conference in Austin; the question to be addressed there was: what role should such courses play in secondary computer science education? Here are the survey results, and a summary of the discussion at the conference. Although the survey results were not surprising to me, the TCEA discussion WAS. Survey Questions and Results: 26 responses 1. What level do you teach at? (e.g. secondary, two-year college, four-year college) Four-year college: 21 Two-Year college: 2 Secondary school: 3 2. If you teach at the secondary level, does your school teach computer courses aimed at a certain type of certification? If so, which ones? No: 2 "Sort Of" (looked some at certification courses at a nearby two-year college): 1 3. If you teach at the college level, does your institution give credit to students for earning a company-based certification such as MCSE? If so, what type of credit do you give? Two-Year Colleges Yes: 0 No, but do offer courses involved company-based certification material: 2 Four-Year Colleges Maybe: 1 (possibly lower level elective credit) No: 20 (one is offering such a class, and another one is considering it) 4. Do you think that courses primarily aimed at a particular type of certification should be taught at the high school level? If so, what role do you think they should play in a student's education? (For instance, should they take the place of, or be a prerequisite to, the standard Computer Science courses? Should the certification courses be aimed primarily at students not planning on a obtaining a four-year college degree?) (These were harder to quantify, so these results are a little more general.) * Several said no, not under any circumstances * A majority said that such courses would be useful, but only if they are treated as technical/vocational courses, for students not intending on a four-year college education * Only two people stated that such courses would be useful to all high school students studying computer science 5. Do you have any other comments, or information to add? * Most people had nothing further to add, or just summarized or added their answer to question 4 * One person stated that the same issue is currently being debated in British Columbia TCEA Session Discussion First of all, I surprised at the size crowd: it was overflowing at more than 50 people. Second, and even more surprisingly, I found that about half of the attendees were already offering company-based certification courses (mostly Cisco network certification), and the other half was strongly considering it. Here are some of the frequent comments made in the discussion: 1. Taking such courses and receiving certification helps the student earn money to get to college, instead of being thought of as a substitute for it. 2. Many of the employers of such students are encouraging them to go to college, and are even willing to help pay for it. 3. Most of the teachers felt that the Cisco courses were more challenging to the students than the standard Computer Science courses. 4. The teachers still felt that students going on to college would benefit from the standard CS1/CS2 high courses, and realize that most four-year universities will not give college credit for company-based certification or related courses. I'm interested in hearing the membership's thoughts on the TCEA discussion. Thanks to all those that participated in the survey. Don ###################################################################### From: Arun Lakhotia Patent on Flexible User Interface design I came across a patent that may be of interest to the FASE audience. The patent granted to Geoworks (http://www.geoworks.com) discloses a process of designing user interfaces such that the same code can work on multiple platform. I am appending its abstract. Details may be found on: http://www.uspto.gov. Geoworks claims that they also have a Japanese patent for this work. WML (Wireless Markup Languages) the language used for WAP (Wireless Access Protocol) is based on this patent. WAP is the communication protocol for wireless phones, email, fax, etc. recently announced by Lucent. Geoworks site has some useful interpretation of the patent and how WML is an embodiment of its patent. It would be interesting to see an independent analysis of this patent. United States Patent 5,327,529 Awarded: July 5, 1994 Title: Process of designing user's interfaces for application programs Abstract A method for invoking a user interface for use with an application operating in a computer system which involves providing in the computer system a generic object class that corresponds to a class of function that is to be performed using the user interface; specifying in the application instance data in the form of a generic object specification that corresponds to the generic object class, the instance data including attribute criteria and hint criteria; providing in the computer system at least one specific user interface toolbox and controller that operates in the computer system to provide a selection of possible specific user interface implementations for use in performing the class of function; and providing in the computer system at least one interpreter that corresponds to the at least one specific user interface toolbox and controller. Inventors: Fults; Douglas A. (San Leandro, CA); Requist; Anthony M. (Alameda, CA) Assignee: Geoworks (Berkeley, CA) Appl. No.: 942354 Filed: September 9, 1992 ###################################################################### By: Don Bagert (Academic/Misc Editor) Countries with Subscribers to FASE There are currently there are 907 people from 55 countries and provinces that are subscribing to FASE, according to internet domain codes: Argentina Australia Austria Bahrain Belgium Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Canada Chile China Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea, South Kuwait Latvia Lithuania Macau Madagascar Malaysia Netherlands New Zealand Norway Pakistan Poland Portugal Saudi Arabia Singapore Slovak Republic Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Tunisia Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom United States Uruguay Yugoslavia [Editor's Note: Macau and Hong Kong are provinces of the People's Republic of China, and the status of Taiwan is best left to the politicians. No international incidents, please!] If I have left off your country, please let me know. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Position Openings ###################################################################### From: Rick Mugridge CHAIR IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING Department of Computer Science and Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand Vacancy 1168 The University of Auckland is seeking applicants for a Chair in Software Engineering, to play a leading role in the continuing development of teaching and research in Software Engineering. The University has just introduced a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Software Engineering, the first of its kind in New Zealand. The degree is designed to meet the huge unsatisfied demand for professional software engineers, both locally and internationally. It is based on international software engineering curriculum standards proposed by the IEEE/ACM Task Force on Defining the Software Engineering curriculum. The degree is planned to have close industry involvement. Teaching will be shared by the Departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Postgraduate programmes in Software Engineering will follow. A PhD programme is in place. The University already has research and teaching strengths in Software Engineering; augmenting these will be a major focus. The Department of Computer Science is the largest and most diversified in New Zealand, with approximately 3500 students (810 effective full-time students) enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes on the City and Tamaki Campuses. Staff research interests cover a wide range of fields including a strong core of research in Software Engineering. Much of the research is co-ordinated by the Internet and Software Research Group (Nikau) which has developed strong links with industry. Further information may be obtained through the department's web page at http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz. The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is the largest Engineering Department at the University of Auckland with approximately 400 undergraduate students (EFTS) and 100 Postgraduate students. At present it offers two degree programmes - Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Computer Systems Engineering. Research interests in the Department include Power Systems, Control, Signal Processing, Information Systems, Radio Systems, Power Electronics, Embedded Systems and Digital Systems. It has strong links with industry. For further information please see the department's home page at http://www.ele.auckland.ac.nz. The University of Auckland is New Zealand's largest university, with 25,000 students on several campuses. Details of the University are available at http://www.auckland.ac.nz. Auckland, with a population of one million, is New Zealand's largest city and its commercial centre. It is a cosmopolitan city with a pleasant temperate climate and convenient access to a wide range of social and, cultural and recreational opportunities. Auckland is known as the City of Sails and has harbours on both the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. We welcome applications for the Chair from suitably qualified candidates in the field of software Engineering. Candidates are asked to address the following criteria in their application: - Engineering and related areas, and an ability to attract researchers and provide research leadership - Commitment to providing high quality teaching - Demonstrated leadership capabilities, essential for ongoing academic growth - Ability to liaise with industry and to secure their involvement and support - Ability to provide a vision of the future for Software Engineering Further positions in Software Engineering will become available in the next few months, and as the programme grows, so we invite expressions of interest in appointments at any level. Conditions of Appointment 1. The Appointment The appointment will be made at the professorial level, with salary and conditions commensurate with background and experience. 2. Tenure This is a tenurable appointment. 3. Qualifications Candidates will have: * A distinguished research reputation in Software Engineering and related areas * A commitment to provide high quality teaching * Demonstrated leadership capabilities, essential for ongoing academic growth * The ability to liaise with industry and to secure their involvement and support * The ability to provide a vision of the future for Software Engineering, in both teaching and research 4. Responsibilities The successful candidate will be responsible to the Vice-Chancellor through the Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Dean of Engineering for teaching and related duties. The successful candidate will be expected to encourage, supervise and engage in research within the University and to develop teaching and research programmes, and provide leadership within the department. The successful candidate will be expected to be the Director of the Software Engineering programme for an initial three year term. The Director chairs the Management Committee and Board of Studies for the Degree. 5. Salary At present, professorial salaries have a lower bound of NZ$91,044 per annum. The salary for this position will depend on your qualifications and experience. 6. Commencement Date To be arranged as early as possible. 7. Other Conditions These are as specified in the University of Auckland Academic Staff Standard Employment Contract. 8. Further Information Further information and Conditions of Appointment can be obtained from the Academic Appointments Section, telephone 64-9-373 7599 ext 5788; fax 64-9-373 7023; email: appointments@auckland.ac.nz; or from our website at www.nzjobs.co.nz/auckland.ac/ You can obtain further information on this vacancy from the Acting Director of the Software Engineering Programme, Associate Professor Rick Mugridge, telephone 64-9-373 7599, ext 8914, fax 64-9-373 7453, email: rick@cs.auckland.ac.nz. 9. Closing Date Three copies of applications, quoting Vacancy 1168, must reach the Academic Appointments Section, Human Resources Registry, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand, by the closing date of 14 April 2000. The University has an EEO policy and welcomes applications from all qualified persons. ----------------- ----------- Associate Professor Rick Mugridge Acting Director, Software Engineering Programme Department of Computer Science, University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland | Ph. (64) (9) 373.7599 ext 8914 New Zealand | Fax: (64) (9) 373.7453 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Contact and General Information about FASE The Forum for Advancing Software engineering Education (FASE) is published on the 15th of each month by the FASE editorial board. Send newsletter articles to one of the editors, preferably by category: Articles pertinent to corporate and government training to David Carter ; Academic education, and all other categories to Don Bagert . If the article for a FASE topic where there is a guest editor, the submission should instead be to that person. Items must be submitted by the 8th of the month in order to be considered for inclusion in that month's issue. Also, please see the submission guidelines immediately below. FASE submission format guidelines: All submissions must be in ASCII format, and contain no more than 70 characters per line (71 including the new line character). This 70-character/line format must be viewable in a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad WITHOUT using a "word wrap" facility. All characters (outside of the newline) should in the ASCII code range from 32 to 126 (i.e. "printable" in DOS text mode). [NEW SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION - February 15, 2000] Everyone that is receiving this is on the FASE mailing list. If you wish to leave this list, send a message to and, in the text of your message (not the subject line), write: unsubscribe fase To rejoin (or have someone else join) the FASE mailing list, write to and, in the text of your message (not the subject line), write: subscribe fase For instance, if your name is Jane Smith, write: subscribe fase Jane Smith But what if you have something that you want to share with everyone else, before the next issue? For more real-time discussion, there is the FASE-TALK discussion list. It is our hope that it will be to FASE readers what the SIGCSE.members listserv is to that group. (For those of you that don't know, SIGCSE is the ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education.) To subscribe to the FASE-TALK list, write to and, in the text of your message (not the subject line), write: subscribe fase-talk For instance, if your name is Jane Smith, write: subscribe fase-talk Jane Smith and then either "fase" or "fase-talk", depending on which list you desire. Please try to limit FASE-TALK to discussion items related to software engineering education and training; CFPs and other such items can still be submitted to the editor for inclusion into FASE. Anyone that belongs to the FASE-TALK mailing list can post to it. FASE-TALK is also used by the editors for "breaking stories" i.e. news that we feel that you would want to hear about before the next issue of FASE comes out. (We do this sparingly, though.) As always, there is no cost for subscribing to either FASE or FASE-TALK! (Subscriptions can also be maintained through the Web via http://lyris.acs.ttu.edu. From there, click on "TTU Faculty Mailing Lists", and then either "fase" or "fase-talk", depending on which list you desire.) Back issues (dating from the very first issue) can be found on the web (with each Table of Contents) at in chronological order, in reverse order, or through ftp at . The FASE Staff: Don Bagert, P.E. -- Academic/Misc Editor, ListMaster, and Archivist Dept. of Computer Science 8th and Boston Texas Tech University Lubbock TX 79409-3104 USA Phone: 806-742-1189 Fax: 806-742-3519 Email: Don.Bagert@ttu.edu URL: http://www.cs.ttu.edu/faculty/bagert.html David Carter -- Corporate/Government Editor College of Technology Motorola University 1700 Golf Road 10th floor, Schaumburg IL 60196 Phone: 847-576-4849 Fax: 847-538-3692 Email: D.Carter@motorola.com Laurie Werth -- Advisory Committee Taylor Hall 2.124 University of Texas at Austin Austin TX 78712 USA Phone: 512-471-9535 Fax: 512-471-8885 Email: lwerth@cs.utexas.edu Nancy Mead -- Advisory Committee Software Engineering Institute 5000 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA Phone: 412-268-5756 Fax: 412-268-5758 Email: nrm@sei.cmu.edu