Developing an effective microcontroller course based on field-programmable mixed-signal /spl mu/-controller product

The paper presents and discusses criteria employed to choose a /spl mu/-controller that has been used as the base for teaching the undergraduate course on Design for Computer & Communication System at Massey University, New Zealand. The contents of the course, lecture materials and lab projects emphasising on several specific topics are outlined. The successful results shown by the students both at exams and in-course work are a good indicator that a sufficient appreciation of the /spl mu/-controller technology and its applications has been established.