Digital Signal Processing with Field Programmable Gate Arrays -- An Undergraduate Prototype Course with Companion Lab

该项目正在开发一门使用现场可编程门阵列（FPGA）的数字信号处理（DSP）本科课程，其中包括实验室实验。本课程介绍了适合本科课程的最重要的DSP算法，不需要广泛的硬件描述语言（HDL）或DSP知识作为先决条件。学生们正在学习如何在现实世界的环境中，利用现实世界的问题和最先进的设备和工具开发DSP系统。调查人员正在通过Blackboard学习系统提供所有材料，包括在线测验和测试。这种基于网络的访问使学生和材料开发人员之间的信息能够持续流动，并促进其他教师和行业顾问对材料的使用和评估。通过在这个非常重要的新兴领域使用最先进的设备为学生提供相关的“动手”设计经验，研究人员希望在他们的项目中提高对大量未被充分代表的学生的保留。来自学术界和工业界的外部评估人员正在确保涵盖适当的主题、工具和程序。学生们使用大学的课程评估流程来评估材料，学生的学习情况通过学生退出调查、焦点小组评估和校友调查来评估。研究人员正计划通过期刊出版物和主要会议报告来传播他们的工作。此外，来自其他四所院校的教员也承诺在各自院校的课程中使用这些材料。

The project is developing an undergraduate course on Digital Signal Processing (DSP) with Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) that includes laboratory experiments. The course presents the most important DSP algorithms appropriate for an undergraduate course and requires no extensive Hardware Description Language (HDL) or DSP knowledge as a prerequisite. Students are learning to develop DSP systems in real world settings with real world problems and state-of-the-art equipment and tools. The investigators are making all material, including online quizzes and tests, available through the Blackboard learning system. This web-based access enables a continuous information flow between students and the material developers, and it facilitates the use and evaluation of the material by other instructors and industrial advisors. By providing students with a relevant "hands-on" design experience using state-of-the-art equipment in this very important emerging field, the investigators hope to enhance the retention of the large number students from underrepresented populations in their program. Outside evaluators from academia and from industry are ensuring that the appropriate topic, tools, and procedures are being covered. Students are evaluating the material using the University's course evaluation process and student learning is being evaluated using student exit surveys, focus group evaluations, and alumni surveys. The investigators are planning to disseminate their work via journal publications and major conferences presentations. In addition, faculty members from four other institutions are committed to use the material in courses at their institutions.