Workshop on using Digital Logic Instruction to Introduce Computing Concepts

由于计算机的无处不在及其在社会中的关键作用，现代计算机工程和科学课程包含了比传统教学更广泛的主题。因此，一些基本概念在整个课程中可能没有得到充分的加强，以使学生能够完全清楚地理解它们。计算机工程课程是一个具有重要技术、科学和社会联系的领域，它的这种不足可能会产生长期的负面影响。该项目将组织一次研讨会，召集计算机工程学科的教师和专家，讨论如何改善课程教学，以确保(1)确保关键思想得到充分加强，(2)保持当前课程的覆盖范围。它将强调并行和分布式计算，这是现代计算机工程和科学教育的关键组成部分。这个项目的直接影响是对学生保留率和毕业率以及整体职业成功的预期改善。系统地、有计划地让学生在整个课程中接触先进的计算机概念，将更好地为工程师在复杂系统上的工作做好准备。更广泛地说，该项目将通过帮助培养具有良好基础的工程师来促进科学发展，这些工程师将成为下一代科学家、研究人员和教职员工。该项目旨在通过在课程早期引入关键的“概念点”来改善并行和分布式计算（PDC）的教育，这些“概念点”可以在随后的高级课程中“连接”起来。这种方法对于通过课程持续强化基本思想是有用的。更具体地说，该项目旨在通过数字逻辑的第一门课程介绍PDC概念。将组织一个研讨会，汇集PDC和数字逻辑方面的教师和专家。本次研讨会的目标是双重的：(a)概念清单：学习不同的方法和经验，从计算机工程和科学（包括数字逻辑）的核心课程中学习，确定重要和困难的主题，并制定一套最佳实践（强调哪些主题以及如何强调）；(b)概念应用：鼓励与会者将研讨会的一些想法纳入他们的课程中

Due to the ubiquity of computers and their critical role in society, modern computer engineering and science curricula incorporate a far wider range of topics than was traditionally taught. As a result, some fundamental concepts may not be sufficiently reinforced across the curriculum to allow students to understand them with full clarity. This deficiency in the Computer Engineering curriculum, a field with significant technological, scientific and societal ties, could have long-term negative impact. This project will organize a workshop to convene faculty and experts in the discipline of Computer Engineering to address ways to improve instruction across the curriculum that (1) ensures that key ideas are sufficiently reinforced and (2) current curricular coverage is maintained. It will emphasize parallel and distributed computing, a key component of modern computer engineering and science education. Direct impacts of this project are on expected improvements in student retention and graduation rates, and overall career success. The systematic and planned exposure of students to advanced computing concepts across the curriculum will better prepare engineers to work on complex systems. More broadly, this project will promote science by helping produce engineers well-grounded in the fundamentals who will become the next generation of scientists, researchers and faculty members.This project aims to improve education in parallel and distributed computing (PDC) by introducing key "concept dots" early on in the curriculum that can be "connected" in subsequent advanced courses. This approach is useful for a sustained reinforcement of fundamental ideas through the curriculum. More specifically, this project seeks to introduce PDC concepts through a first course in digital logic. A workshop to bring together instructors and experts in PDC and digital logic will be organized. The goals of this workshop are twofold: (a) Concept Inventory: Learning different approaches to and experiences from teaching core courses in computer engineering and science (including digital logic), identifying important and difficult topics and developing a set of best practices (for which topics to emphasize and how; (b) Concept Application: Encouraging attendees to incorporate some of the ideas from the workshop into their courses.1