Teaching Formal Methods and Discrete Mathematics

TL;DR

Integrating formal methods with discrete mathematics in undergraduate education can improve learning and make formal methods more accessible to future software engineers.

Contribution

Proposes a combined teaching approach of formal methods and discrete mathematics at the undergraduate level, demonstrated through a FoCaLiZe-based example.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of discrete mathematics through formal methods integration

Potential for earlier adoption of formal methods in computer science curricula

Improved perception of formal methods as a professional skill

Abstract

Despite significant advancements in the conception of (formal) integrated development environments, applying formal methods in software industry is still perceived as a difficult task. To make the task easier, providing tools that help during the development cycle is essential but we think that education of computer scientists and software engineers is also an important challenge to take up. Indeed, we believe that formal methods courses do not appear sufficiently early in compter science curricula and thus are not widely used and perceived as a valid professional skill. In this paper, we claim that teaching formal methods could be done at the undergraduate level by mixing formal methods and discrete mathematics courses and we illustrate such an approach with a small develop- ment within FoCaLiZe. We also believe that this could considerably benefit the learning of discrete mathematics.