Using Embedded Systems To Teach All Levels Of Programming To Electrical Engineering Students

This paper describes the implementation of a programming sequence in Electrical Engineering starting at the freshmen year which places a considerable emphasis on embedded systems. Freshmen are introduced to procedural programming techniques using a popular 8-bit micro-controller. Assembly language programming is introduced in the sophomore year, followed by an embedded systems design course, which introduces students to a mixed assembly language and high-level language software design. A final course in the sophomore year covers object-oriented concepts. A development platform has been designed which is able to support high-level language programming for freshmen as well as embedded systems design in a mixed-language environment. This platform also allows a seamless transition to a fully independent embedded systems design course. The integrated development environment allows complete design in a procedural programming language, assembly language, and objectoriented language without changes in the software or hardware platform.