Software engineering

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/software-engineering

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scope?Covers the entire software lifecycle: requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance
2. What is the key distinction?Applies engineering principles and systematic processes, extending beyond mere coding
3. Why did software engineering start?It began in the 1960s and 1970s because old ways of making programs were slow, expensive, and full of mistakes.
4. How do software engineers make sure a program is good?They gather what people need, design the plan, write the code, test it many times, and fix problems later.

Software Crisis: A period where software projects were often late, over budget, and of poor quality.
Software Lifecycle: The entire process of creating, using, and maintaining software, from conception to retirement.
Requirements Engineering: The process of defining, documenting, and maintaining user and system requirements for software.