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Tutorial E

TUESDAY 5th September 1995 (afternoon)

Building Models in Z: An Active Approach

Neville Dean (Anglia Polytechnic University, UK)

The tutorial is aimed primarily at those who have already met the Z notation, and who would like to learn more about how the notation can be used to build models of systems. The tutorial is based around a case study; delegates will be expected to take an active part in developing models for the case study. The activity does not use any software tool, but is designed

• to highlight the need for tools;
• to develop the understanding required for the effective use of tools.

By the end of the tutorial, most delegates:

• should have produced an intelligible specification;
• be aware of the role of Z in modelling systems;
• relate modelling in Z to good software practice;
• have a better understanding of the nature of Z constructs such as schemas and axiomatic definitions, and their usefulness in model building;
• understand the basic principles of building a model in Z, and reasoning about the model.

Neville Dean is a Senior Lecturer at Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge. He is a committee member for the International Z User Conference, and organizer of the Educational Issues Session; he is also an active member of the Technical Segment Committee, of the IEEE Computer Society, on the Engineering of Complex Computer Systems.

Next: Tutorial F
Up: ZUM'95 Tutorials: 4-6th September 1995
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