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 f-fer recommendations to this end on the basis of our findings.