Role of circuit and logic simulators in EE curriculum

The experiences of the author in the use of four simulation packages in four different courses in an electrical engineering curriculum during the past four years are described. The simulators used were the commercially available SPICE and HILO and the home-grown EEPAK and APAP. The capabilities of the packages are briefly noted. The advantages and disadvantages of the use of simulators in education are discussed in some detail. It is concluded that, when one weighs the pros and cons of using computer simulation, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, and that the simulators play a positive role as long as they are kept subservient to the main goal of education, which is imparting knowledge and understanding of the subject.