Teaching operating systems with simple low-cost portable energy efficient devices

Abstract

Among others, a good platform in teaching operating systems (OS) includes a simple hardware architecture, a small open sourced OS, a friendly user interface for debugging and programming, and the ability to directly interact with the hardware, which should be portable for anytime anywhere learning, and the curriculum should cover the latest technologies to expose students in the recent advancement in computing systems. We propose a new pedagogical model for OS curriculum based on an inexpensive simple microprocessor with the latest low power capability, and a small open sourced operating system. This device has been widely deployed, and has a potential to be reused in other computing courses. Its inexpensive characteristics promote broad adoption especially in resource limited institutions.