Collaborative Research: EAGER: AI-Assisted Just-in-Time Scaffolding Framework for Exploring Modern Computer Design

有必要培训熟练的计算机架构师来设计创新的计算机硬件。基于软件的仿真是计算机系统设计与开发的支柱。这些工具也广泛用于计算机体系结构概念的教学。目前，用于教育目的的模拟器具有陡峭的学习曲线，对初学者来说并不有趣，而且容易出错。因此，这些模拟器大多由经验丰富的研究人员使用。该项目引入了一种名为scaffolding AI-driven Learning Simulation （SAILS）的新框架和技术。SAILS提供了一个互动式和支持性的计算机架构学习平台，并提供涵盖不同学习模式和难度的设计练习。在开发阶段，堪萨斯大学和佛罗里达国际大学的教师将使用SAILS每年向大约400名计算机科学与工程专业的本科生和研究生教授入门和高级计算机体系结构课程。一旦SAILS完全开发出来，它将成为美国几所院校教授计算机体系结构的框架。SAILS实现了一种新的人工智能驱动的范例，用于减少教育环境中计算机体系结构模拟器的学习曲线。SAILS实现了一个前端，为不同背景的学生减少了模拟简单到高级系统的复杂性。SAILS后端无缝连接到最先进的计算机架构模拟器，并为用户提供及时的个性化帮助。通过个人用户和团队数据以及全球用户使用该框架的经验训练的集中式AI模型提供帮助。SAILS集成了褪色的脚手架方法，为个人学习者和团队提供适当级别的支持，以最大限度地提高他们的学习效果。SAILS易于使用的图形用户界面，引人入胜的学习活动和个性化的脚手架支持广泛和多样化的学生群体，包括女性和代表性不足的少数民族学生，在计算机架构和设计领域。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

There is a need to train skilled computer architects to design innovative computer hardware. Software-based simulation is the backbone of computer system design and development. Such tools are also widely used for teaching computer architecture concepts. Currently, the simulators used for educational purposes have a steep learning curve, are not interesting for beginners, and are error-prone. Therefore, these simulators are mostly used by experienced researchers. This project introduces a novel framework and technology called Scaffolded AI-driven Learning Simulation (SAILS). SAILS enables an interactive and supportive computer architecture learning platform and offers design exercises covering different learning modes and difficulty levels. In the development phase, SAILS will be used by instructors at the University of Kansas and Florida International University to teach introductory and advanced computer architecture courses to about 400 undergraduate and graduate computer science and engineering students every year. Once SAILS is fully developed, it will serve as a framework to teach computer architecture in several US institutions.SAILS implements a novel AI-driven paradigm for reducing the learning curve of computer architecture simulators in educational settings. SAILS implements a front end that reduces the complexity of simulating simple to advanced systems for students with various backgrounds. SAILS back-end seamlessly connects to a state-of-the-art computer architecture simulator and provides just-in-time personalized assistance to the users. The assistance is provided by a centralized AI model trained by individual users’ and team data and global users’ experience with the framework. SAILS integrates the faded scaffolding approach to provide appropriate levels of support to individual learners and teams to maximize their learning. SAILS’s easy-to-use graphical user interface, engaging learning activities, and personalized scaffolding support a broad and diverse student population, including female and underrepresented minority students, in the computer architecture and design field.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.