A contribution to innovation in the field of microprocessor systems: Evaluation of the use of SIMRA simulator in teaching

Abstract

This paper describes and evaluates an application which provides the simulation of the functioning of the central processor (CPU). The simulation provides visual representation of anything occurring both at the level of arithmetic logic units (ALU) for different arithmetic and logical operations and at the level of bits. The evaluation of the application of this simulator in teaching was also conducted. The sample included 95 students from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Čačak, study program – Information Technologies. The method with parallel groups was applied in this research. One group of students mastered the contents of the ALU in traditional way of teaching, while the other group used the simulator. Their advancement in ALU knowledge was measured by knowledge test specially designed for this research. In the end, the students of both groups evaluated the use of the simulator in teaching. The results of the research showed that students who studied with simulators were more motivated and achieved better results than students who learned the same content in a traditional way.