Noviceware: a model for learning the software development process

Students and nursing faculty without formal computer science training can collaborate within an independent study structure to assist the student in gaining experience with the fundamentals of software development. The systems development life cycle approach provides an essential map to structure such independent studies. This article describes the development within an academic setting of a computerized research management system. The software builds a database of research case demographic data and data from a 65-item tool used in scoring videotapes of caregiver-infant interactions. For students and faculty contemplating similar projects, recommendations about planning software development experiences and securing hardware, software, and expert resources are provided.