Computer Systems Pedagogy Using Digital Logic Simulation

This paper shows how digital logic may be taught to undergraduate students through the use of a logic simulation tool designed for pedagogical purposes. Digital logic is commonly taught either completely theoretically or together with practical work on breadboards using Small Scale Integration (SSI) devices. Such practical work is limited in scope and often teaches more about how to connect wires together than the workings of digital logic. In contrast, we use the LOG logic simulator which is part of the public domain CHIPMUNK package. It allows the construction of complex designs, including complete computer systems, it is modular and extensible and displays the workings of a design in ways that can not be shown except through simulation. Student coursework is submitted electronically and marked with a simulated test circuit.