A web-based e-assessment tool for design patterns in UML class diagrams
Tobias Reischmann, Herbert Kuchen · 2019
In this paper, we introduce a formative e-assessment tool for building UML class diagrams. Students are tasked to model a UML class diagram for a use case, while choosing a suitable design pattern. The web-based tool is able to automatically assess student solutions and identify the design pattern they applied. This information is then used to advise students on their design pattern choice and give further feedback centred towards an exemplary solution. The paper outlines the applied algorithms for the identification process. Further, we analyse the performance of the design pattern identification based on a field experiment within a CS3 course. In the evaluation, we draw the comparison of our tool's identification quality with that of teachers from the CS3 class. Our results show that the approach is reasonable and helpful for students in order to learn how to select and apply design patterns in different scenarios.