Academic year: 2007-2008
| Local Key | FORMP | Hemis Key | U11497 | Base Key | 3652 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Points | 15 | Lecturer | Dr Matthew Poole | Coordinator | Dr Alexander Gegov |
| Delivery Mode | Campus - Semesterised | Release Status | A | Materials | |
| Normal Level | M | Notional Study Hours | 150 | Standard Hours | 36 |
| Scheduled Activities | Lecture = 20, Tutorial = 10, Assessment = 6. | Min Student Numbers | 20 | Max Student Numbers | 0 |
| Prereq Named | None | Postreq Named | None | Coreq Named | None |
| Excluded Combinations | None | Dependancies | None | Prereq Statement | Students should be confident in the use of mathematical concepts of sets, functions and predicate logic and an understanding of the basic principles and techniques in formal methods. |
| Ass Weight Exam | 60 | Ass Weight Con | Ass Weight Other | 40 |
This extends students' knowledge of formal specification within the context of complex systems. The advantages and disadvantages of different types of formal specification will be considered and one specification language will be studied in depth.
| 1 | To enable students to evaluate and use formal specifications in developing complex systems. |
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able, at threshold level, to:
| 1 | Summarise the characteristics of a formal specification. |
| 2 | Validate formal specifications written in a formal language. |
| 3 | Prepare specifications in a formal language. |
| 4 | Recommend and justify an appropriate type of formal specification for a given application. |
| 5 | Evaluate software tools to analyse and develop formal specifications. |
New material will be introduced in lectures with practical sessions used to consolidate understanding. Case studies will be used to illustrate concepts as they are introduced.
Overall Assessment Strategy – to ensure students can demonstrate both a theoretical understanding of the learning outcomes and the ability to apply and evaluate their knowledge. In order to achieve a pass mark in this unit, a student must achieve a minimum mark of 30% in each assessment component as well as an overall aggregate mark of 40%. (APC approved exemption from University Examination and Assessment Regulations.)
| 1 | Examination | 60 | Open book, 2 hours duration, individual, tutor-marked covering learning outcomes 1-4 |
| 2 | Supervised Work Session | 40 | A tutor-marked day long session with students both working in groups and individually on a practical piece of work involving elements of learning outcomes 2, 3 and 5. |
| Pathway Name | Unit Level | Semester | Status | Pathway Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Software Engineering | M | 1 | C | |
| MSc Electronic Commerce with Marketing | M | 1 | O |
The topics covered in the unit will include:
| 1 | Comparison of different types of formal specification (e.g. algebraic, model based, process algebra). |
| 2 | Detailed study of a model based formal specification language (e.g. B, Z, VD, PD or OCL). |
| 3 | Tool support for formal specification. |
| 4 | Synthesis of a formal specification with a graphic notation eg UML |
| 5 | Formal Specification for requirements engineering. |
Nil
| Warner, J. and Kleppe, A., The Object Constraint Language: Precise Modeling with UML, Addison Wesley, 1999, 0201379406, Y | |
| Jackson, M., Software Requirement and Specifications, Addison Wesley, 1995, 0201877120, Y | |
| Currie, E., The Essence of Z, Upper Saddle River NJ, Prentice Hall, 1999, 013749839X, Y | |
| Nissanke, N, Formal Specification: Techniques and Applications, Springer-Verlag, 1999, 1852330023, Y | |
| Fitzgerald, J. and Larson, P., Modelling Systems Practical Tools and Techniques in Software Development, CUP, 1998, 0521623480, Y |
Nil
Nil
| Key Skills CO | Key Skills NO | Key Skills IT | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key Skills PS | Key Skills ILP | Key Skills WO |
| Owning Department | School of Computing | Programme Area | Computing and Multimedia | Owning Institution | University of Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Board | Computer Science and Software Engineering | Responsible FHQA | Technology | Subject Group | Software Engineering |
| External Examiner | Dr Neil Willis | Programme Coord | Dr Christopher Lester | University Cost Centre | |
| Effective Session | 2006/07 | Withdrawn Date | Suspend Date | ||
| Review Date | Major Release Date | 2003-06-03 00:00:00 | Minor Release Date |
Robert Topp will be assisted in delivery by Alex Gegov. Access to a tool to support the chosen specification language will be needed. The unit will begin with a review of the relevant mathematical concepts aimed at students who have been out of higher education for some years. If required additional mathematical support will be available to students via the Maths Café and Maths Centre. Subject to timetabling constraints this unit may be offered as an option throughout the Postgraduate Programme.
| History Version | History Date | Change Style | History Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2003-06-03 00:00:00 | N | New unit. (Mo Adda/RJS) |
| 1.1 | 2003-09-15 00:00:00 | M | Overall assessment strategy detailing exemption added. Pathways revised. (Rod Jeffcote/RJS) Ext Examiner entered as Hope. (Annette Wilson/RJS) |
| 1.1 | 2003-11-17 00:00:00 | M | Hemis code added (NS) |
| 1.2 | 2004-02-09 00:00:00 | M | Unit code changed from SE.FORMP to FORMP (Annette Wilson/KW). |
| 1.3 | 2005-12-15 00:00:00 | M | Minor Amendment to Lecturer and Semester ( Alex Gegov/KB) |
| 1.4 | 2006-02-22 00:00:00 | M | Removed DM, ISD & ISY pathway (MS/JH) |
| 1.5 | 2006-11-17 00:00:00 | M | External Examiner updated (C Faircloth) |