A Simulation Framework for UML Education

Learning OMG's Unified Modelling Language (UML) can have a steep learning curve. It is a General Purpose System Modelling Language composed of several structural and behavioural sublanguages with relatively complex notations to allow for the specification of several system views. In the course of their learning experience, students frequently have difficulty understanding the semantics of UML models. We argue that the learning experience can be greatly improved if suitable feedback mechanisms (such as open-source lightweight tools that integrate existing simulation tools) are introduced along the incremental try-and-run process. UML naturally offers separation of concerns (thanks to its relatively independent sublanguages), allowing students to understand how to model a software system without the need to understand all of the 14 UML diagrams altogether. This paper describes a simulation environment of UML using and integrating state-of-the-art technology to simulate different UML sublanguages for describing system behaviour, implemented to support the teaching of UML.