The week's pick
Reseach Article
Using two Educational Simulator Tools for Computer Architecture Teaching and Learning Support
| International Journal of Computer Applications |
| Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA |
| Volume 180 - Number 47 |
| Year of Publication: 2018 |
| Authors: Dimitris Kehagias |
10.5120/ijca2018917249
|
Dimitris Kehagias . Using two Educational Simulator Tools for Computer Architecture Teaching and Learning Support. International Journal of Computer Applications. 180, 47 ( Jun 2018), 8-12. DOI=10.5120/ijca2018917249
Abstract
Simulators are commonly used in any computer architecture course as primary tools for supporting the teaching and learning activity. We have developed two educational simulator tools to support teaching and learning of the MESI cache coherence protocol and dynamic scheduling using Tomasulo's Algorithm. We have used these simulators during the spring semester of the academic year 2016 – 2017, in the context of the “Advanced Computer Architecture” course offered by the Informatics department of the Technological Educational Institute (T.E.I.) of Athens. In this paper we briefly present these simulators and evaluate their impact on the learning process. The results are presented both qualitatively and quantitatively and are strongly indicate that the use of the two simulators can effectively support the learning process and enhance learning.
References
- “Advanced Computer Architecture”. Available at: http://www.cs.teiath.gr/?page_id=6450.
- D. Kehagias and I. Raptis, “An Interactive MESI Cache Coherence Simulator for Educational Purposes”, In the ACM Conference Proceedings of the 20th Pan-Hellenic conference on Informatics (PCI 2016), Patra Greece, doi>10.1145/3003733.3003765, Nov. 10-12, 2016.
- Dimitris Kehagias and V. Douskas-Bertlvise, “Android-based Simulator to Support Tomasulo Algorithm Teaching and Learning”, International Journal of Computer Applications (IJCA), Vol. 170, No. 2, pp. 24-29, doi>10.5120/ijca2017914703, July 2017.
- Chalk, B. “Evaluation of a Simulator to Support the Teaching of Computer Architecture”. 3rd Annual LTSN-ICS Conference, Loughborough University.
- Mustafa, B. “Evaluating a System Simulator for Computer Architecture Teaching and Learning Support”. ITALICS Vol. 9, issue 1, Feb. 2010, ISSN: 1473-7507.
- Grigoriadou M., Kanidis V., Gogoulou A. “A Web-Based Educational Environment for Teaching the Computer Cache Memory”, IEEE Transactions on Education, 2006, Vol. 49, No.1, p. 147-156.
- V. Luković, R. Krneta, A. Vulović, C. Dimopoulos, K. Katzis, and M. Meletiou-Mavrotheris, “Using Logisim Educational Software In Learning Digital Circuits Design,” in Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Electrical, Electronic and Computing Engineering IcETRAN 2016, p. AUI1.5.1-6.
- “Tomasulo’s Algorithm. University of Edinburgh”. Available at: http://www.icsa.inf.ed.ac.uk/research/groups/hase/models/tomasulo/index.html. Accessed on Feb. 2017.
- Typanski N., “Tomasulo algorithm simulator (prototype)”. Available at: http://nathantypanski.github.io/tomasulo-simulator/ Accessed on Feb. 2017.
- University of Massachusetts at Amherst. “Dynamic Scheduling Using Tomasulo's Algorithm”. Available at: http://www.ecs.umass.edu/ece/koren/architecture/. Accessed on Feb. 2017.
- “Tomasulo’s Algorithm for Dynamic Scheduling”. Available at: http://dark.eit.lth.se/darklab/tomasulo/script/tomasulo.htm. Accessed on Feb. 2017.
- Gomez-Luna, J., Herruzo, E. and Benavides, J. I., 2009. MESI Cache Coherence Simulator for Teaching Purposes. CLEI ELECTRONIC JOURNAL. 12, 1.
- Laguens, A. A., Mir, S.B. and Quintana Orti, E.S., 2011. An Interactive Animation for Learning How Cache Coherence Protocols Work. In proceedings of INTED2011 Conference, 7-9 March, Valencia Spain.
Index Terms
Keywords