Teaching digital systems using a unified FPGA platform

Abstract

This paper presents how the course syllabus for digital and computer systems education at our department has been adapted to utilize the same FPGA-based hardware platform in many laboratory exercises. The reform has been carried out in order to streamline the learning towards core content instead of studying multiple complex design software and hardware environments. Each student is given a package including an FPGA board and related design tools. In addition to the course exercises, the students are encouraged to use it also for thesis projects and hobbies. In this paper, we describe the syllabus, the key courses, and the platform used in education of microelectronic systems. Examples of completed thesis works are given.