Efficient Online Homologation to Prepare Students for Formal Methods Courses

摘要

At Eindhoven University of Technology, the majority of students enrolling in our master programme on Embedded Systems have one or more deficiencies in prerequisite bachelor-level knowledge and skills. In the past, we tried to determine such deficiencies on the basis of application data (e.g., a transcript of their bachelor programme), and students were then required to repair them by including one or two bachelor courses in their study programme. This approach was found to be both unreliable and inefficient. To improve, we have developed an online homologation recommendation tool by which students can determine to which extent they satisfy the prerequisites of the programme and fully automatically get a recommendation on how to repair deficiencies. Furthermore, we have developed several online self-study homologation modules. In my talk, I will discuss my experiences with developing both the homologation recommendation tool and the online homologation module Logic and Set Theory, which addresses prerequisites for the mandatory formal methods course that is part of the Embedded Systems programme. The homologation module consists of over 50 short videoclips and a week-by-week exercise programme. In our experience, the material successfully and efficiently prepares master-level students for an exam of our bachelor course Logic and Set Theory.