Digital system description knowledge assessment

Abstract

The paper presents a knowledge assessment approach developed for support of Digital system description course. In the course the students should comprehend the methods and techniques used in digital system design, and gain the skills in digital systems modelling using hardware description languages (HDL). For many years the course exams used to be done only in pen and paper form. The students hated writing HDL programs on paper and the teachers disliked correcting the programs on paper as well. What is more, this type of exam has not allowed the verification of the student's ability to debug the created model, which is the substantial part of the student's practical skills. That is why, some years ago, we concentrated our work on designing a knowledge assessment system that will enable reliable evaluation of practical skills in the area of digital system description without substantial teacher involvement. Several applications have been developed and tested in the course. One of the best will be presented here. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010.