A New Project-Oriented Computer Engineerng Course in Digital Electronics and Computer Design

Abstract

A one-quarter electrical and computer engineering design course in digital electronics and computer systems is described in this paper. It is primarily aimed at senior-level undergraduates. The course attempts to familiarize students with hardware-oriented logic design techniques, introduce them to recent technological advances, and provide hands-on experience of the computer hardware. Emphasis is placed on laboratory and project work, individual design and construction experience, the use of modern test equipment, and testing and documenting a system with moderate complexity. It carries five credits, with six lecture hours and six laboratory hours per week during the first six weeks and 20-30 h per week thereafter for students' projects. It demands intensive participation from students and instructors alike, and is continuously updated in response to both technological advances and student feedback. The enrollment has been limited to less than 30 students per quarter. The course has so far been offered for four quarters, and has received very encouraging response from not only students, but also their employers.