The use of low cost portable microcontrollers in teaching undergraduate Computer Architecture and Organization

This paper presents our experiences in teaching undergraduate Computer Architecture and Organization using a low cost portable microcontroller, MSP 430 manufactured by Texas Instrument Inc. This microcontroller is hosted on a USB dongle along with necessary hardware interfaces for system configuration. The microcontroller, though simple, covers basic fundamentals of computer systems, and indeed is a great platform for beginners to start with. This low cost portable device makes it possible for students to conduct labs and projects at anytime and anywhere.