Hands-on improvements for efficient teaching computer science students about hardware

Abstract

Teaching computer science students how hardware devices work is often a very difficult process. It requires huge efforts both from the instructors and students. Although teaching the theoretical lessons and exercises is important process, the most important part of teaching hardware based courses is hand-on exercises since they can easily awake or asleep computer science student curiosity for hardware courses. This paper presents the continuum in evolution of a hardware based course “Microprocessors and Microcontrollers” in a software oriented curriculum. It presents the improvements realized in hands-on laboratory exercises and new teaching methodology for them. The results show that realized changes have improved the quality of grade distribution even more, and not only in hands-on lab exercises, but also in mandatory practical projects and course overall grade distribution.