Abstract
<p style="margin: 0px;">The computer architecture and organization course is essential in all computer science and engineering programs, and the most selected and liked elective course for related engineering disciplines. However, the attractiveness brings a new challenge, it requires a lot of effort by the instructor, to explain rather complicated concepts to beginners or to those who study related disciplines. The usage of visual simulators can improve both the teaching and learning processes. The overall goal is twofold: 1)~to enable a visual environment to explain the basic concepts and 2)~to increase the student's willingness and ability to learn the material.</p> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0px;">A lot of visual simulators have been used for the computer architecture and organization course. However, due to the lack of visual simulators for simulation of the cache memory concepts, we have developed a new visual simulator EDUCache simulator. In this paper we present that it can be effectively and efficiently used as a supporting tool in the learning process of modern multi-layer, multi-cache and multi-core multi-processors.</p> <p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0px;">EDUCache's features enable an environment for performance evaluation and engineering of software systems, i.e. the students will also understand the importance of computer architecture building parts and hopefully, will increase their curiosity for hardware courses in general.</p>
Highlights
The Computer Architecture and Organization course is acknowledged as a significant part of the body of knowledge and an important area in undergraduate computer science (CS) curricula [1], [2]
Our analysis shows that these topics are covered during the theoretical lectures, neither theoretical nor practical tutorials are provided for these topics, since the exercises are devoted to the design of digital logic circuits
A new EDUCache visual simulator was developed as a support tool in the teaching process of the Computer Architecture and Organization course
Summary
The Computer Architecture and Organization course is acknowledged as a significant part of the body of knowledge and an important area in undergraduate computer science (CS) curricula [1], [2]. Teaching computer architecture is a very difficult process and requires a lot of effort from both instructors and students [3]. It is usually scheduled in the first study year and it is almost always a completely new course for the students. Students must understand the architecture, but the organization inside the multi-processor. We have not found appropriate educational simulator that will help the students to understand all cache parameters and their impact to program execution.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP)
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
