Comparison of the effectiveness of Logisim software tool and remote experiments based on Nexys 2 FPGA platform in learning digital circuits design

Abstract

This paper describes the findings from our study on the parallel usage of Logisim software tool and remote experiment based on Nexys 2 FPGA hardware platform for learning digital circuits design and computer architecture by students of the first and the second-year of Electrical, Computer and Mechatronics Engineering undergraduate study programs at the Faculty of Technical Science Čačak, University of Kragujevac. For the purpose of comparison of the effectiveness of these two learning tools, a survey was conducted between students who used these tools in learning digital circuits design within the course Foundations in Computer Technics 2 during the winter semester of the academic year 2016–2107. Based on analysis of given results some conclusions were drawn regarding to parallel usage of Logisim software tool and remote experiments based on FPGA hardware platform in learning digital circuits design.