A novel approach to teaching microprocessor design using FPGA and hierarchical structure

This paper presents the implementation and delivery of a microprocessor based design laboratory, in an attempt to achieve tighter integration with theory and improve student´s performance. The design process follows a hierarchical structure, requiring students to first build basic devices such as logic gates, multiplexers, one-bit memory cells etc. These basic devices are then used to build an ALU, registers, (registers are used to build larger memories), a data path and a control unit. Students are required to figure out the designs on their own and implement it using VHDL on the XILINX Spartan 3 board. Designs are completed without any high level programming ensuring that students cannot rely on the complier to transform specifications into implementations. Overall we observed better grades and independent student evaluations were higher for this academic year (2008).