Teaching the unifying mathematics of software design

Abstract

We report on our experience on teaching the mathematics of reliable software design as a unifying force for various elements of software design, rather than as an additional element of software design. This is in line with the use of mathematics in traditional engineering disciplines, but in contrast to teaching a "formal method" optionally after an "informal" exposition to software design or teaching a formal method only with specific applications in mind.

On Complementing an Undergraduate Software Engineering Course with Formal Methods

“…Compared to the research literature, the course design presented here neither yields a formal methods course in a narrower sense (like, e.g., [18], [31]- [33], nor in a broader sense where outlooks on software engineering are included by means of manageable examples as in [34], [35]). The course design here in particular has, as an introduction to software engineering, a broader scope than, e.g., Noble et al [36], [37], who focus on software modelling (as in our topic area Design, see below), Aceto et al [38], who focus on concurrency and [39], who focus on finite-state model-checking (both included in our topic area Design).…”

TEACHING ABSTRACTION IN MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE - A Computer-supported Approach with Alloy

“…Few works address our problem of how to decompartmentalize mathematics and computing learning. We can cite (Sekerinski, 2009) where mathematics is used as the unifying force of all core elements of software design. But, in this approach the focus is placed on specifications, algorithms and correctness proofs with the use of Weakest Preconditions Calculus while we focus on mathematical modelling.…”