Specification: Much More Than Learning ALanguage
Stacie Cassat Green, J Webb · WIT transactions on information and communication technologies · 1970
During the last academic year a module introducing formal specification was presented for the first time at the University of the West of England. The course, based upon Z [1], was delivered over a 12 week period to 150 first year HND and degree students using one lecture, one tutorial and one laboratory session per week. A number of problems were encountered during this first presentation of the module. The main problem was that students found it difficult to create a complete specification from a set of requirements written in English; many did not know either how to get started or how to proceed once they had started. To help the students to develop specifications it is proposed that in future years they should be taught a method of analysing a statement of requirements that will produce a good starting point from which to begin to create specifications in Z. In addition they should also be taught a method that will guide them through the process of completing a specification in Z. Transactions on Information and Communications Technologies vol 7, © 1994 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3517