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Sessions 1526 & 2526

The URI Integrated Computer Engineering Design (ICED) Curriculum: Progress Report

Augustus K. Uht University of Rhode Island

Abstract

The University of Rhode Island started the ICED curriculum in the Fall of 1997. The key feature of ICED is a substantial 2-3 year long project tying together important but normally disjoint computer engineering concepts across the major. The students learn how to make critical hardware/software tradeoffs with long-term implications. Courses in processor design, compiler design and networks are required, and tied together through the major project. This keeps students motivated in novel ways: they enjoy discovering the implications of decisions made in one area, across all other areas over the span of years.

This paper reports on the status and progress of ICED after two years of startup operation. Some custom hardware was required for the curriculum; these lab stations have now been built and are currently being tested. In our original NSF grant we noted the need for additional funds to build this hardware and otherwise equip more lab stations; we applied for and received these funds from the Champlin Foundations of Rhode Island in 1998/9. The students have received the new curriculum enthusiastically and have learned much. It has also been a learning experience for the faculty involved. We are immediately plowing what we learn back into the design of ICED and its core courses, in order to fully achieve and enhance our curricular goals. The paper includes descriptions and documentation of all of the above.

I. Introduction

Traditional computer engineering curricula include unconnected coursework with isolated project work leaving students to the erroneous conclusion that hardware and software design are separate and exclusionary activities, with little effect on each other. This is particularly unsatisfactory since complex embedded-systems designs are being used more and more in the “real world”.

The Integrated Computer Engineering Design or ICED curriculum1 at the University of Rhode Island seeks to remedy this by teaching students to make key hardware/software tradeoff design decisions. This is achieved with the following ICED components: 1) a 2-3 year long project spanning six or more hardware and software courses; 2) required coursework including advanced software topics such as compiler design, as well as a full slate of hardware courses; 3) the use of modern commercial EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools2; and 4) custom hardware3 and software to enhance the laboratory experience of the students.

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Uht, A. K. (2000, June), The Uri Integrated Computer Engineering Design (Iced) Curriculum: Progress Report Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8871