MSE6265: Software Construction and Advanced software Testing

1. Course description

The primary objective of this course is to impart the learners the required knowledge and skill on the advanced concepts of software construction and the associated testing. The learners are destined to construct and test software and software components skillfully either independently or as the member of a group. The administration also involves equipping the learners with hands on practical training with practice sessions and case studies.   

2. Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and Understanding

At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

1. Statistics and metrics relevant to software testing. 

2. Construction and testing of software and software systems at a specialist level. 

3. The standards of practice applied in software construction and testing. 

4. Business and management techniques relevant to software construction and testing. 

5.  Quality and benchmarks in software construction and testing. 

B. Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills/ Application of Knowledge

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Select and apply appropriate mathematical methods for testing software.

2.  Use statistics and product testing principles in the development of solutions to problems in software construction and testing. 

3.  Critically assess software construction and testing work done by others. 

C. Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Specify, plan, manage, conduct and report on software construction and relevant research projects. 

2. Prepare construction documents and test reports. 

3. Use competently and safely standard electrical/electronic/computer laboratory instrumentation. 

4. Observe and record skilfully and accurately test data. 

5.  Analyse, evaluate and interpret test data and apply them to the solution of practical software testing problems. 

6.  Use computational tools and packages appropriate to software construction, testing and research. 

D. General transferable skills

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1.  Carry out independently a sustained investigation and research on software construction and testing. 

2. Work effectively both as a member or leader of a software testing team. 

3. Efficiently manage both time and resources in the construction and testing of software. 

4. Develop/prepare Test Documents and reports. 

3. Indicative Content

• Software Construction Fundamentals
• basic principles of construction: minimizing complexity, anticipating change, and constructing for verification
• standards for construction
• Managing Construction
• construction models, construction planning, and construction measurement
• Practical Considerations
• construction design
• construction languages
• coding
• construction testing
• reuse
• construction quality
• integration

 Software Testing

The dynamic verification of the behavior of a program on a finite set of test cases, suitably selected from the usually infinite executions domain, against the expected behavior.

Objectives

• Software Testing Fundamentals
• testing-related terminology
• key issues of testing, e.g.,
• relationship of testing to other activities
• Test Levels (between targets and objectives of tests)
• Test Techniques
• tests based on the tester’s intuition and experience
• specification-based techniques
• code-based techniques
• fault-based techniques
• usage-based techniques
• techniques relative to the nature of the application
• selection and combination of test techniques
• Test-Related Measures
• evaluation of the program under test
• evaluation of the tests performed
• Test Process (practical consideration and test activities)

 Practicals: related to software testing to implement test conditions with different applications

Mini Project: C# or/and .Net based on construction techniques utilizing requirements and design of selected topic

4. Learning and Teaching Strategy 

A course handbook will be provided in advance and this will contain in depth information relating to the course content and give an opportunity to the students to prepare the course. The lecture materials will be posted on the web page that will also contain comprehensive web links for further relevant information. The module will be delivered through lectures, tutorial/practice sessions and group discussions. In addition to the taught element, students will be expected to undertake a range of self-directed learning activities, which will comprise case studies and mini research projects. All supporting documents for the course will be made available on web, as printed copies and also as soft copies.

5. Assessment Strategy 

100% based on individual assignment and team assignments.

As this a Theoretical and Practical module:

The Final assessment shall include 60% of continuous and 40% of End of Module assessment.

The assessments shall be made 50% each for practical and theoretical aspects.

For Example:

one quiz (5%), one/two practical assignment (10%), one mini project for presentation (20%), one tutorial session (5%), short practical test (10%) and a short written test (10%) followed by final assessment (40%) of End of Module Examination divided equally into practical viva-voce and theoretical examination.

6. Assessment Criteria

For the assignments, criteria will be drawn up appropriate to the topic, based on the expected learning outcomes.