Education Products EvaluationFinal Report

Mark K. Reha

AET/530University of Phoenix

Introduction

This presentation is a summary of the Final Report after investigation and analysis

for an educational tool that can be used to solve a common problem in software

engineering and Information Technology companies. This report includes:

• The problem statement

• The student and classroom profile

• What education products were investigated

• An analysis and product comparison

• The recommended educational product

The full product investigation, analysis, and details of the final report can be found in

the ‘Education Products Evaluation - Final Report’ paper.

Did you know?

The first educational radio programs date back to the mid-1920s, and educational television to the mid-1950s (see Bates, 1984). Educational sixteen-millimeter film was widely used between 1930 and 1980 and was gradually replaced by video-cassette technology.

Audio-conferencing started to be used for educational purposes in the 1970s.

Computer technology was first applied to education as teaching machines in the late 1970s.

The first Internet-based courses appeared in the mid-1980s, and then the World Wide Web transformed online learning from 1995 to the present.

Problem Statement

One of the problem areas that is prevalent in many software engineering

departments is the lack of training in software design and the lack of appropriate

software design tools that can be put in place to help solve this problem.

One of the technologies that can be used to design software is with the use of

the Unified Modeling Language (UML) in Computer Aided Software Engineering

(CASE) tools. UML is a unified modeling language used during software design

to model software systems and to model software solutions that can be easily

taught to software developers.

A UML training class and a companion UML desktop design tool will be

required to train the software developers in UML.

Training Class Student Profile

1. 15 participants2. 5 females and 10 males 3. Age range is 25 to 454. Experience levels:

A. 3 students have 3 to 5 years of industry experience

B. 10 students have 6 to 9 years of industry experience

C. 2 students have more than 10 years of industry experience

5. All students have minimal experience designing software using UML

Training Class Classroom Profile

The large training room will be equipped with whiteboards, bulletin boards, an

overhead projector, a VCR/DVD player, and a ceiling-mounted projection system.

Each student will have a work station with a computer running Windows XP.

Each student’s work station will be pre-installed with the UML design tools before

the class starts.

Internet access is not required for the class.

The class will not require an assistant trainer.

The training room will be available for the entire day.

Products Investigated

Product Description

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Low cost, UML 2.0 compliant, robust, extensive online help and tutorials, reputable company, runs only on Microsoft Windows platform.

ArgoUML No cost, open source, UML 2.0 compliant, marginal support and online help, long standing open source company, runs on multiple platforms including Unix, Mac, and Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft Visual Studio Ultimate 2010

Expensive, partially UML 2.0 compliant, excellent online help, world leader in development tools and operating systems, .NET tool, runs only on Microsoft Windows platform.

UML Design Tools

Product Analysis (SECTIONS)

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

ArgoUML Microsoft Visual Studio Ultimate

2010

Students

Ease of use and reliability

Costs

Teaching and learning

Interactivity

Organization issues

Novelty

Speed

UML Design Tools

Recommendation

It is recommended that Enterprise Architect from Sparx Systems be used as the UML desktop design tool for the UML training class.

Enterprise Architect was chosen for the following reasons: Was the best fit for purpose Was cost effective Was fully UML 2.0 compliant Was easy to install Had multiple product versions (personal to enterprise) Had very good online tutorials Provided the best technical support options

Questions or Comments

???

Bates, A. W., & Poole, . (2003). A Framework for Selecting and Using Technology. Effective Teaching with Technology in Higher Education: Foundations for Success. Retrieved October 30, 2010 from the University of Phoenix

Library

Collabnet Inc.. (2009). Welcome to ArgoUML. Retrieved from http://argouml.tigris.org/

Microsoft Corporation. (2010). Microsoft Visual 2010 Studio - The Official Site of Visual Studio 2010. Retrieved from

http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/

Sparx Systems. (2010). UML Tools for Software Developers. Retrieved from http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/

References