Year 1 students often find it hard to see why software maintenance is important in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). This can be especially tough when they are faced with tricky ideas.

Challenges:

• Lack of Real-World Context: Students may have trouble connecting maintenance to their coding assignments.
• Misunderstanding: They might think that coding is something you do just once, so they forget about the need for ongoing maintenance.
• Technical Jargon: The words used around maintenance can be confusing and daunting.

Solutions:

• Simplified Examples: Use easy comparisons like taking care of a bicycle or a car. This helps show why software maintenance matters.
• Interactive Learning: Include fun projects where students need to go back and change their code. This shows them that software development happens in steps.
• Collaborative Activities: Get students talking in groups about what happens if someone ignores software maintenance.

By addressing these challenges with relatable activities and team projects, Year 1 students can better understand why maintenance is a key part of software development.