A Highly Interactive PC based Simulator Tool for Teaching Microprocessor Architecture and Assembly Language Programming

Abstract

Teaching microprocessor programming in computing science is one of the challenging tasks of the instructors. This is mainly because of totally new and different subject that needs to be thought to the students. One other subject that produces even more difficulties is making the students to comprehend the I/O operations. There are several hardware platforms especially designed to focus on this matter. There are also several simulation platforms developed as an aid to teach Assembly Language Programming (ALP). In this study we have developed a platform putting extra focus on the I/O aspects of ALP. Our platform provides the user, a highly interactive platform consisting of an editor, a simulator and an animator including several virtual I/O elements. Using the simulator has improved the understanding of the subjects at The Department of Computer Education of Technical Education Faculty of the University of Gazi in Ankara, Turkey. Ill. 7, bibl. 14 (in English; summaries in English, Russian and Lithuanian).