Overview of test design techniques in the context of teaching students in the integrated technology of software quality assurance

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive review of test design techniques in the context of training students who specialize in integrated technologies for quality assurance of software products (Quality Assurance). The modern IT services market constantly puts forward new requirements for software quality, including increased reliability, security, functionality, and ease of use. In this regard, the role of QA specialists has increased significantly, hence the need to train highly qualified specialists. Today, many educational programs in the field of information technology focus on software development, but not enough attention is paid to methods of ensuring its quality. As a result, graduates do not always have the necessary skills to develop effective test scenarios and use modern testing techniques, which are critical for detecting and eliminating defects early in the software life cycle. The article details key test design techniques, including equivalent distribution, boundary value analysis, decision tables, paired testing, state transition testing, and scenario development techniques for exhaustive and exploratory testing. For each method, examples of its application in practical tasks are given, allowing you to better understand its effectiveness and advantages. Special attention is paid to the issue of adapting these techniques to training aimed at preparing students for actual working conditions in the IT industry. This will provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills critical for working in the dynamic environment of modern Agile and DevOps teams. The conclusions emphasize that introducing test design techniques into educational programs will contribute to the formation of students' system thinking, analytical abilities, and the ability to work with modern software quality assurance tools. Therefore, expanding educational programs through integrating modern test design techniques is necessary for training competitive specialists capable of responding to the challenges of the modern IT market.