Practical Exercise For Efficient Education Of Computer System Architecture
- Conference
- Location
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Publication Date
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June 22, 2008
- Start Date
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June 22, 2008
- End Date
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June 25, 2008
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Electrical and Computer
- Page Count
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14
- Page Numbers
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13.989.1 - 13.989.14
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--3842
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/3842
- Download Count
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2398
Paper Authors
Soonghwan Ro Kongju University, Rep. of Korea
He received an B.S., M.S. and PhD degrees from the Department of Electronics Engineering at Korea University in 1987, 1989, and 1993 respectively. He was a research engineer of Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute and University of Birmingham in 1997 and 2003 repectively. Since March 1994 he has been an professor at Kongju National University, Korea. His research interests include pervasive computing, embedded systems and mobile communication.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Practical Exercise for Efficient Education of Computer System Architecture
Abstract
Computer System Architecture, written by M. Morris Mano, has been the most widely used teaching material for training and understanding computer operation since its publication. This teaching material provides an understanding of computer operation, assembly language and assemblers, and enhances ability in hardware design and software programming.
However, it is very difficult for students to learn this subject through theoretical lectures alone. Therefore, in order to help students to understand, the lessons were followed with the design project “A Simple Computer,” which was introduced in the teaching material. However, not many students could have completed the above term project during the period when this subject was taught. Those who succeeded learned a lot, but others maintained a lack of understanding of the subject regardless of the time they invested.
DigiCom, which operates in the same manner as the system introduced in the teaching material, was designed. DigiCom was developed with VHDL using the ALTERA design software Quartus II and implemented on the ALTERA Cyclone FPGA. This kit is a not general digital design kit, but it has the same features that “A Simple Computer” introduced in Computer System Architecture.
DigiCom was utilized in the 2007 term. The learning performance and improvements of the students were analyzed by comparing the course evaluation, examination marks and term project results between the year 2007 and previous years.
The effectiveness of the new kit could be confirmed by quantitative analysis, and also qualitatively in the class. It could also be seen that the students’ interest in the course improved.
1. Overview
Computer System Architecture, [1] written by M. Morris Mano, has been the most widely used teaching material for training and understanding computer operation since its publication. This teaching material provides an understanding of computer operation, assembly language and assemblers, and enhances ability in hardware design and software programming.
However, it is very difficult for students to learn this subject through theoretical lectures alone. Therefore, in order to help students to understand, a term project to design and implement “A Simple Computer (ASC)” was assigned according to the following process:
- Design and implement “A Simple Computer” into the teaching material with VHDL - Program an assembler to assemble the example program. - Assemble the example program with the developed assembler and run that on the developed “A Simple Computer.”
Ro, S. (2008, June), Practical Exercise For Efficient Education Of Computer System Architecture Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--3842
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