Enhancing Teaching and Learning Computer Hardware Fundamentals Using PIC-Based Projects

Abstract

Computer hardware, number systems, CPU, memory and I/O (input/output) ports are topics often included in computer science, electronics, and engineering courses as fundamental concepts involved in computer hardware. We believe that students learn computer hardware fundamentals better if they are given practical learning exercises that illustrate theoretical concepts. However, only a limited range of material designed specifically to supplement the teaching of computer hardware concepts is publicly available (see http://sigcse.org/topics/, the SIGCSE Education Links page on the Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education Web site).