Asee peer logo

Enhancing High-Level Language Concept Comprehension through a Notional Machine Approach of Assembly Language Education

Download Paper |

Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Computing and Information Technology Division (CIT) Technical Session 2

Tagged Division

Computing and Information Technology Division (CIT)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/47307

Request a correction

Paper Authors

biography

SAGNIK NATH University of California, Santa Cruz Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-5225-952X

visit author page

Sagnik Nath received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Renssalaer Polytechnic in 2020 and his B.E. in Electronics and Communications Engineering in 2015 from Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, India. He is currently a Teaching Professor at the Computer Science and Engineering division of Baskin Engineering at UC Santa Cruz. His research interests include incorporating DEI in engineering education, computer architecture and VLSI design.

visit author page

Download Paper |

Abstract

In computer science curricula, the inclusion of assembly language programming is commonplace regardless of students' focus on computer science (CS) or computer engineering (CE) majors. The key objective within our university's(University of California, Santa Cruz) foundational "Computer Systems and Organization" (CSE12) course is dual-fold: to cultivate a deep understanding of machine architecture's programmer model and to seamlessly prepare both CS and CE undergraduates for the advanced concepts in the subsequent "Computer Architecture" (CSE120) course. Current literature also highlights the merits of teaching assembly language, positing that it enables proficiency in higher-level programming languages. However, transitioning from an introductory high-level language-based programming to assembly language can be jarring due to the stark contrast in instruction paradigms. In response, we have reimagined assembly language assignments within CSE12. Leveraging the open-source RARS assembly language runtime emulator, we have reshaped lab exercises to better emulate scenarios akin to those encountered in high-level language programming. This transforms RARS into a Notional Machine that bridges the gap between high-level language abstractions and low-level assembly implementation. Gathering quantitative and qualitative feedback from course surveys, our study reaffirms the effectiveness of this pedagogical strategy. Preliminary data suggest that students not only gain a deeper comprehension of machine architecture but also exhibit improved readiness for subsequent courses, underscoring the notional machine's role in facilitating a smoother transition between programming paradigms. This abstract encapsulates our ongoing efforts to refine computer science curricula, highlighting the promising impact of RARS in enriching students' educational experiences.

NATH, S. (2024, June), Enhancing High-Level Language Concept Comprehension through a Notional Machine Approach of Assembly Language Education Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47307

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2024 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015