USING SPREADSHEETS TO TEACH COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

In this paper, we introduce a new tool dedicated to computer architecture learning. Based on spreadsheets, it is simple to use and widely portable. It provides a set of spreadsheets with examples to run and analyse and gives the oppurtinity to users to build their own basic circuits from transistors and basic gates to logic and clocked blocks. Users can also use the provided machine spreadsheet to write their assembly code, execute it and even enhance the instructions set by adding new instructions and their associated microcode to the microcode table. The results are very promising considering the speed and the level of the understang of the students following the computer architecture design course since the introduction of this tool.