REFLECTIONS ON FIVE YEARS OF COHERENT TEACHING ACROSS THREE COURSES ON DIGITAL LOGIC AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS

 Abstract – This paper describes a concerted effort over a five-year period to provide a coherent learning experi-ence in a three-course sequence in the areas of digital logic and computer systems. Among other ways, the co-herence across the courses stems from having the same instructor, the same laboratory hardware, the same soft-ware tools, and the same expectations and approach for assessment of individual learning. Based on the five-year history of academic performance by students on final ex-aminations, the overall outcome is judged as being mixed, where perennial challenges for students in programming have been difficult to address and where other factors such as reduced attendance and interference from other courses have also had adverse effects. To obtain better outcomes, the author recommends higher-level institu-tional attention to developing more personal learning responsibility in students, as well as more focused efforts to address programming challenges in particular.