A Spiral Computer Engineering Lab Framework

这个项目正在为计算机工程课程建立一个“螺旋式”的实验室框架，在这个框架中，关键概念在日益复杂和相互关联的水平上被重新讨论。该项目不是将每门课程作为一个孤立的主题来对待，而是开发一系列实验室实验和项目，贯穿整个课程，从一年级的工程学到高级的顶石设计。这种方法将帮助学生看到学科的大局，增强他们解决复杂和现实问题的“整合技能”。这项拟议的工作通过实验室连接和整合各个课程，这些实验室融合了三种类型的媒体：视频、音频和触摸传感器。这些实验室旨在说明和强化各种课程中的关键理论概念。它们的复杂性和抽象程度随着学生在课程中的进步而逐渐增长。每个单独的项目及其组件最终演变成一套完整的IP(知识产权)核心，这些核心形成可定制的I/O子系统，可并入任何基于FPGA(现场可编程门阵列)的计算机系统。整个项目解决了工程学课程中的一个严重缺陷--缺乏整合技能。它使用低成本的原型电路板和部件，可以很容易地融入现有的课程结构。改进后的课程将提高学生的综合能力，使他们意识到大背景，并保持他们的兴趣和动力。该项目将在两个机构并行实施，并将对其成效进行评估。

This project is establishing a "spiral" laboratory framework for a computer engineering curriculum in which the key concepts are revisited at increasing levels of sophistication and interconnection. Instead of treating each course as an isolated topic, the project is developing a sequence of laboratory experiments and projects weaving through the entire curriculum, from freshman engineering to senior capstone design. This approach will help students see the "big picture" of the discipline and enhance their "integration skills" to address complex and realistic problems. The proposed work connects and integrates the individual courses through laboratories that incorporate three types of media: video, audio, and touch sensor. The laboratories are designed to illustrate and reinforce key theoretical concepts in various courses. Their complexities and abstraction levels gradually grow as students progress through the curriculum. Each individual project and its components eventually evolve into a complete set of IP (intellectual property) cores that form customizable I/O subsystems that can be incorporated into any FPGA (field programmable gate array) based computer system. The overall project addresses a serious deficiency - lack of integration skill - in the engineering curriculum. It uses low-cost prototyping boards and parts and can be easily incorporated into existing curricular structures. The improved curriculum will enhance students' integration skill, make them aware of the big context, and keep them interested and motivated. The project will be implemented in two institutions in parallel and its effectiveness will be evaluated.