Hardware-Software Co-Design in an Undergraduate Microcontroller Laboratory

计算机工程(32)在硬件和软件协同设计方面的技能正在迅速成为高科技计算机行业产品开发的关键。为了满足工业中日益增长的需求，电气工程、计算机工程和计算机科学的学生应该在本科水平上接触硬件-软件协同设计的概念。该教材开发项目的目标是通过开发在本科微控制器课程中引入软硬件协同设计的教材来改进教学实践和学生的学习。这一目标是通过以下活动实现的：1)开发8051微控制器的全功能硬件-软件仿真模型；2)开发演示硬件-软件协同设计概念的学生实验室；以及3)开发讲义材料，介绍硬件-软件协同设计的概念。该项目将尖端技术与最新的教育实践相结合，为本科工程课程提供低成本、创新的补充。材料的开发和评估在一门本科课程中进行，这门课程吸引了来自电气工程、计算机工程和计算机科学的学生。正在使用试点系统对学生学习进行形成性评估，以改进材料的整体质量。这些材料正在其他五个机构进行测试，并采用共同的评估方案，以证明这些材料在不同学生群体中的适应性。评价结果和材料本身正在通过适当的会议和期刊以及通过万维网传播。正在开发一个教师讲习班和教学教程，将在两个专业会议上提交，并在网上提供，以帮助其他教师在其机构改编材料。正在编写一份商业出版的实验室手册，以便与该网站一起使用。

Computer Engineering (32)Skills in hardware-software co-design are quickly becoming critical to product development in high-technology computer industries. To satisfy growing demand in industry, students in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science should be introduced to concepts of hardware-software co-design at the undergraduate level. The goal of this Educational Materials Development project is to improve educational practices and student learning through development of materials that introduce hardware-software co-design in an undergraduate microcontrollers course. This goal is being accomplished by the following activities: 1) development of a fully-functional hardware-software simulation model of the 8051 microcontroller; 2) development of student laboratories that demonstrate concepts of hardware-software codesign; and 3) development of lecture materials to introduce concepts of hardware-software co-design.This project integrates cutting-edge technology with the latest educational practices to provide a low-cost, innovative addition to the undergraduate engineering curriculum. Materials are being developed and evaluated in an undergraduate course that draws a mix of students from electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science. Formative evaluations of student learning using a pilot system are being used to refine the overall quality of the materials. The materials are being tested at five other institutions with a common evaluation protocol to demonstrate the adaptability of the materials across diverse student populations. Results of the evaluation and the materials themselves are being disseminated through appropriate conferences and journals and through the world-wide web. A faculty workshop and teaching tutorial is being developed to be presented at two professional meetings as well as available on-line to assist other faculty members in adapting the materials at their institutions. A commercially published laboratory manual is being developed to be used with the web site.