Integrating manufacturing into a computer systems design course: industrial collaboration and design technology

The design and manufacture of computer systems is an extremely complex and multi-faceted process and thus presents significant educational challenges. This paper describes new approaches to the teaching and learning of computer systems design and manufacturing which combine the use of design technology, hands-on prototyping and industrial collaboration. The resulting teaching materials are now available as a video tape series and a set of electronic materials on the course Web page. The materials are already in use at the University of Rhode Island and are being considered for use at other schools in New England as well as in France and Korea. This project was supported by NSF and ARPA through the Engineering Academy of Southern New England (EASNE) and also by Deka R&D, Cadence Design Systems, Digital Semiconductor, Analog Devices and Microchip.