Evaluation of StudentUML: an Educational Tool for Consistent Modelling with UML

Several CS courses adopt UML (Unified Modelling Language) in order to teach objectoriented analysis and design techniques. It is acknowledged that appropriate UML modelling tools have to be used in conjunction with the taught material so that students get hands-on experience with the tools and the practices of the trade. Professional UML tools tend to be too complex and lack educational features. StudentUML is a simple yet effective educational tool which supports the construction of consistent UML diagrams. The unique among similar tools capability of StudentUML to validate diagrams and check their consistency substantially supports students in the process of correctly assimilating the taught concepts. In this paper we present the results of experiments that have been conducted in order to evaluate the consistency checking feature of StudentUML.