Using tablet PCs and interactive software in integrated-circuit-design courses to improve learning

This paper describes my experiences using tablet PCs and interactive course software in integrated circuit design courses. There is a rapidly growing community that is demonstrating the usefulness of this technology to increase interaction between faculty and students and to facilitate cognitive exercises during lectures, which have been shown to improve learning and retention of material. While numerous examples of using this technology exist, there is very little literature regarding its application to integrated circuit design. This paper focuses on examples from three different IC design courses to describe the types of cognitive activities that can be facilitated with this technology. It is my goal to spark discussion of and interest in this technology in order to further improve its effectiveness.