Project-based learning environment for special purpose DSP architectures

Project-based learning is de-facto a great challenge for both students and instructors, and it can bring the number of advantages, or even disadvantages if suitable environment is not set. In DSP courses where special purpose architectures are studied, project-based learning should be carefully employed. On contrary to the approach in which student gets a project and instructor evaluates results of design efforts, this paper deals with development of environment for project-based learning, where instructors can see the process used to produce those results. In this paper we propose a low-cost, CVS-based environment for hardware oriented project-based courses. It enables good and fast startup for studentspsila projects, and supports critical stages in learning by allowing students to study other studentspsila work. System requirements are given, and the model is developed and described using a UML sequence diagram. Evaluation of the system has been done in the period of one year on the test group of 21 students.