Collaborative Research: Portable, Modular, Modern Technology Infused Courseware for Broader Embedded System Education

嵌入式系统在我们社会的各个方面发挥着越来越重要的作用。嵌入式系统的快速发展导致了嵌入式软件开发专业人才的短缺。本项目旨在创建一种新的嵌入式系统教育模式，其重点在于：（1）便携性和可负担性。开发的课件是提供便携式真实的实验室的基础上流行的微型计算机单元开发工具包，是可扩展的和负担得起的。这消除了建立高成本嵌入式系统实验室的障碍;（2）模块化和灵活性。正在开发的课件和项目是模块化的，有多个学习层次。模块化设计使教师能够灵活地采用完整的课程或根据其特定需求整合选定的模块。建议的单元和项目将融入现代嵌入式软件技术，以促进学生的创造力和终身学习。该课件是在一个集成包中提供的，包括一本配套的教科书和一个便携式嵌入式系统开发工具包。该课件提供了一种“即用型”模式，极大地节省了资源和时间，可用于扩展嵌入式系统教育，以满足科学、技术和工程领域新兴的劳动力和教育需求。这种新课件的便携式和模块化设计使广大有嵌入式系统教育需求但受有限的财政预算、实验室设施、以及缺乏敬业的员工和教师。该项目包括一个学术界，有来自五个州的八个机构。

Computing-Others (35)Embedded systems play more and more important roles in all aspects of our society. The rapid growth of embedded systems has resulted in a shortage of professionals for embedded software development. This project is creating a new model of embedded systems education with the following emphasis: (1) Portable and affordable. The developed courseware is providing portable real labs based on a popular microcomputer unit development kit that is expandable and affordable. This removes the barrier of setting up high cost embedded systems labs; (2) Modular and flexible. The courseware and projects that are being developed are modular and have multiple learning levels. The modular design gives instructors the flexibility to adopt the full course or integrate selected modules based on their specific needs. The proposed modules and projects are infusing modern technology of embedded software to promote students' creativity and to inspire life-long learning. This courseware is delivered in an integrated package including a supporting textbook bundled with a portable embedded system development kit. The courseware is providing a "ready-to-adopt" model and greatly saves resources and time for broadening embedded systems education to meet emerging workforce and education needs in science, technology, and engineering.The portable and modular design of this new courseware is benefiting a wide range of universities and colleges that have a for need of embedded systems education but are hindered by limited financial budget, lab facilities, and scarce dedicated staff and faculty. This project includes an academic community that has eight institutions from five states.