The development of a computer-aided learning tool for supporting the teaching of assembly language programming

Sim8086 is a Microsoft Windows-based computer-aided learning (CAL) system for supporting the teaching of assembly language programming to first-year undergraduate students. This paper takes the development of Sim8086 as a case study and uses it to illustrate some of the professional, economic and educational issues faced by teachers who design and develop CAL systems. In particular, the paper charts the interaction between these elements and seeks to offer guidance to educators who find it difficult to embark on CAL developments. Further, we report our efforts to make opportunistic use of resources as and when they become available, in order to improve the chance of delivering CAL software.