CHIPDESIGN - A novel project-oriented microelectronics course

As an initiative to increase students' interest in microelectronics and as an effort to introduce more learning situations involving so-called "soft skills" like presentations and team management into the curriculum, a novel project-oriented advanced-level microelectronics course has been offered. The common goal of all students in this one semester course is to design, implement, and verify, an ASIC, starting with a rough specification, using state-of-the-art software tools and a standard cell design flow, down to the final layout specification and manufacturing. Students start to work in groups on sub-modules of the whole design, which requires them to coordinate their work, plan new tasks as the project progresses, and assume new responsibilities to succeed. A special presentation skills class helps students to prepare the mandatory final oral presentation. Lessons learned from two holdings of the course are summarized.