Using UML in Software Requirements Analysis - Experiences from Practical Student Project Work

Abstract

Currently the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is an industry standard for object-oriented analysis and design of software systems. Accordingly, teaching UML is part of curricula in many universities engaged in the field of software engineering. Yet not much has been reported in the literature on how efficiently such courses enable students to use UML in software development projects. In this paper we present the initial results of our ongoing study into the capabilities of students to use the UML in system design projects after having undergone "traditional" and alternative teaching methods in UML classes. In this paper we investigate students' motivation to follow a use-case driven approach in requirement analysis. We furthermore explore specific problems students are confronted with when using the UML. These findings were gathered during continuous evaluation of a project, in which students were exposed to the real world of systems design, by making the requirement analysis for a customer relationship system. With our study we attempt to optimize our methods of teaching UML in university courses and o ffer recommendations to this end on the basis of our findings.

Feedback on the integration of a serious game in the data modeling learning

“…Other authors [20] argue that modeling is only acquired through practice and recommend the trainer to describe steps to build diagrams.…”

Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Educational Cases in Computer Science: An Exploration

“…Many problems on this list were also found in an empirical study (Frosch-Wilke, 2003), about problems with using class diagrams (among other things).…”

“…Raner (2000) states, for that reason, that UML is excellent for experts, but bad for novices. One of the diagram techniques of UML is drawing class diagrams (Frosch-Wilke, 2003). Using class diagrams has become central within object-oriented analysis and design.…”

A Framework for the Evaluation of CASE Tool Learnability in Educational Environments

“…Since Unified Modelling Language (UML) became an OMG (Object Management Group) standard and is generally accepted as the prominent modelling language by the industry, many educational practitioners have started using UML to facilitate in the teaching of object-oriented methodology in their undergraduate software engineering courses (Frosch-Wilke, 2003;Tabrizi, Collins, Ozan, & Li, 2004). However, more recent research has recognized that UML can be taught effectively only with the support of an appropriate CASE tool (Burton & Bruhn, 2003;Johnson & Wilkinson, 2003;Tabrizi et al, 2004).…”