CS2115 Computer Organization

Course Duration: One Semester

Credit Units: 3 credit units

Level: B2

Medium of Instruction: English

Pre-requisites: Nil

Pre-cursors: Nil

Equivalent Courses: Nil

Exclusive Courses: Nil

Course Aims:

This course aims to introduce the logic design techniques and principles in the operation and construction of the functional parts of CPU and fundamental components. The course demonstrates computer architecture and programming model using CISC processor as example. It also introduces the techniques on low level assembly language programming.

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
(state what the student is expected to be able to do at the end of the course according to a given standard of performance)

  Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No.CILOsWeighting (if applicable)
1.describe functions of the basic building blocks of a digital system; 
2.identify various architectures and explain the design concepts of computer systems; 
3.create the designs of simple digital logic circuits; 
4.apply techniques of CISC assembly language such as MC68000 to write simple programs; 
5.explain and critique the basic operations of cache and main memory, I/O operations and interrupt, as well as analyzing the performance of different designs 

Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs):
(Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to facilitate students'' achievement of the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course)

Teaching pattern:
Suggested lecture/tutorial/laboratory mix:  2 hrs. lecture; 1 hr. tutorial.
 

ILO No

TLAsHours/week (if applicable)
CILO 1 to
CILO 5       		Tutorial / Lab hands on – Tutorial sessions will be used for Q&A. If there is no question from students, the tutor will discuss practical questions and exercises with students.

In the middle of semester, hands-on will be included in tutorial sessions to let students to do experiment with circuit simulator and/or cross assembler.

This activity helps support course ILO, especially #3 and #4.		1 hour of tutorial / hands-on per week
CILO 1 to CILO 5Assignment/Exercises – Assignments will be given out during the semester.  Assignments will be focusing on practical questions and at least one of them will be allocated for low level programming in assembly language.  Students are required to solve simple programming problem in group or individual basis.

Students may also be required to write report to present the design rationale. This activity helps support course ILO #1, #3, #4 and #5.

Assignments will be graded according to the correctness, as well as the robustness of design and prototype.		 
 

Assessment Tasks/Activities:
(Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course)

 

ILO No

Type of assessment tasks/activitiesWeighting (if applicable)Remarks
CILO 1Exam/Mid-term quiz:  
Final exam and mid-term quiz will include questions assessing the students’ understanding on the building blocks of computer.

Coursework:
Assignment may include short factual questions and design exercises regarding the various building blocks of computer. 
Quality of assignment (correctness of answers and feasibility of design) will be used to assess this ILO.		  
CILO 2Exam/Mid-term quiz:
Final exam and mid-term quiz will include questions assessing the students’ understanding on architectural aspect of computer such as single bus organization.

Coursework:
Assignment may include short factual questions and case studies regarding computer architecture.  Quality of assignment (correctness of answers and ability to apply knowledge) will be used to assess this ILO.		  
CILO 3Coursework:
Assignment may include simple circuit design project / exercises.  There would be hands-on and case study on circuit design during tutorial. 
Quality of assignment and probably hands-on exercises will be used to assess this ILO.		  
CILO4Coursework:
Assignment may include mini programming project in assembly language.  There would also be hands-on exercises during tutorial. 
Quality of assignment and probably hands-on exercises will be used to assess this ILO.		  
CILO5Exam/Mid-term quiz: Final exam and mid-term quiz will include questions assessing the students’ understanding on I/O, bus, interrupt and peripheral operations.  

Grading of Student Achievement:

Examination duration: 2 hours
Percentage of coursework, examination, etc.: 30% CW; 70% Exam
Grading pattern: Standard (A+AA-…F)For a student to pass the course, at least 30% of the maximum mark for the examination must be obtained.

Keyword Syllabus:

Number Systems.  Floating Point. Logic Gates. Combinational Circuit Design. Classical Combinational Circuits. Basic Computer Architecture Model. Classification of Processors. Stages of Instruction Execution. Memory Systems. Memory Mapped I/O, Programmed I/O, Interrupt I/O, DMA. Assembly Programming. Addressing Mode. Stack Operation.