论文标题
我们不明白它在说什么 - 研究学生对软件建模的看法
We Do Not Understand What It Says -- Studying Student Perceptions of Software Modelling
论文作者
论文摘要
背景：尽管软件建模具有潜在的好处，但开发人员表现出对其应用的非常不愿。现有的研究研究了工业用途和建模的技术挑战。但是，缺乏详细的经验工作，研究学生如何看待建模。目的：我们调查学生在大学环境中建模的看法。方法：我们进行了一项多个案例研究，其中有5例（来自3所大学的5个课程）和两个分析单位（学生和讲师）。我们通过21种半结构化访谈收集了数据，并使用体内编码和主题分析对其进行了分析。结果：学生看到建模的一些好处，例如，使用模型在小组内进行计划和交流。但是，几个因素对他们对建模的理解产生负面影响，例如，对他们的模型的不明确期望，不规则和不足的反馈以及对问题域缺乏经验的作业。结论：我们的发现有助于更好地理解学生为何与软件建模斗争，并且可能不愿意以后采用。这可能有助于改善大学和行业的软件建模教育和培训。具体来说，我们建议教育工作者尝试提供句法问题以外的反馈，并考虑使用学生知识渊博的问题领域。
Background: Despite the potential benefits of software modelling, developers have shown a considerable reluctance towards its application. There is substantial existing research studying industrial use and technical challenges of modelling. However, there is a lack of detailed empirical work investigating how students perceive modelling. Aim: We investigate the perceptions of students towards modelling in a university environment. Method: We conducted a multiple case study with 5 cases (5 courses from 3 universities) and two units of analysis (student and instructor). We collected data through 21 semi-structured interviews, which we analysed using in-vivo coding and thematic analysis. Results: Students see some benefits of modelling, e.g., using models for planning and communicating within the group. However, several factors negatively influence their understanding of modelling, e.g., assignments with unclear expectations, irregular and insufficient feedback on their models, and lack of experience with the problem domains. Conclusions: Our findings help in understanding better why students struggle with software modelling, and might be reluctant to adopt it later on. This could help to improve education and training in software modelling, both at university and in industry. Specifically, we recommend that educators try to provide feedback beyond syntactical issues, and to consider using problem domains that students are knowledgeable about.
