Software modeling is an integral practice for software engineers, especially as the complexity of software solutions increases. Unified Modeling Language (UML) is the industry standard for software modeling. however, it is often used incorrectly and misunderstood by novice software designers. This study is centered around understanding patterns of student proficiency of abstraction and systems thinking within a software modeling context. The participants of this study (n = 97) belonged to a systems analysis and design course that is primarily taken by second-year university students. The exam solutions to a case study from the course were evaluated for modeling proficiency. As evidence of proficiency in abstract thinking and systems thinking, we evaluated UML activity diagrams, class diagrams, and sequence diagrams and the alignment between these representations in terms of functions, structures, and behaviors. The results suggest students being proficient in modeling the functional aspects of an information system while facing some difficulty in capturing the structural and behavioral aspects of an information system. Clustering analysis revealed two groups within the sample, with one group displaying a significantly higher abstraction and systems thinking ability. Statistically significant correlations were also found between student proficiency of abstraction and their modeling proficiency in terms of functions, structures, and behaviors.

中文翻译：

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从功能、结构和行为方面表征学生对软件建模的熟练程度

软件建模是软件工程师不可或缺的实践，尤其是随着软件解决方案复杂性的增加。统一建模语言 (UML) 是软件建模的行业标准。但是，新手软件设计人员经常会错误地使用和误解它。这项研究的重点是理解学生在软件建模环境中抽象和系统思维能力的模式。本研究的参与者 (n = 97) 属于主要由二年级大学生学习的系统分析和设计课程。对课程中案例研究的考试解决方案进行了建模能力评估。作为精通抽象思维和系统思维的证据，我们评估了 UML 活动图、类图、和序列图以及这些表示在功能、结构和行为方面的一致性。结果表明，学生能够熟练地对信息系统的功能方面进行建模，但在捕捉信息系统的结构和行为方面时面临一些困难。聚类分析显示样本中有两组，其中一组表现出明显更高的抽象和系统思维能力。在学生的抽象能力和他们在功能、结构和行为方面的建模能力之间也发现了统计学上的显着相关性。结果表明，学生能够熟练地对信息系统的功能方面进行建模，但在捕捉信息系统的结构和行为方面时面临一些困难。聚类分析显示样本中有两组，其中一组表现出明显更高的抽象和系统思维能力。在学生的抽象能力和他们在功能、结构和行为方面的建模能力之间也发现了统计学上的显着相关性。结果表明，学生能够熟练地对信息系统的功能方面进行建模，但在捕捉信息系统的结构和行为方面时面临一些困难。聚类分析显示样本中有两组，其中一组表现出明显更高的抽象和系统思维能力。在学生的抽象能力和他们在功能、结构和行为方面的建模能力之间也发现了统计学上的显着相关性。