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The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is currently the de-facto visual modeling standard for object-oriented design. The UML provides many modeling diagrams and constructs used to aid the design and development of objected-oriented systems. Each UML diagram presents a unique view of the object-oriented system under design. The most common UML modeling diagram is the Class Diagram. Classes represent the modeling framework from which all object-oriented systems are designed. They are the “blueprints” of object-oriented systems, defining the attributes and behaviors of objects, which in turn, provide the functionality of object-oriented systems. A typical class diagram groups logically-related classes together to show the relationships of the classes to one another. Since it is highly likely that programming students will encounter the UML in industry, it is imperative that computer science and computer engineering technology instructors begin to introduce students to the UML in their object-oriented programming courses. This tutorial is designed for just that purpose. The tutorial introduces the UML Class Diagram-its syntax and constructs. Specifically, seven methods expressing the relationships between classes are examined through detailed examples and pictorials. Students will learn how to model class diagrams using associations, association classes, aggregations, compositions, generalizations, realizations, and dependencies. Using this tutorial, programming instructors can quickly teach the fundamentals of UML class diagrams to their students. Students can use the tutorial as reference material as they develop class diagrams for their own objected-oriented programs.
Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education