Computer-Assisted Assembly Language Programming Laboratory

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach for managing laboratory work mini-projects that is used in the Computer Architecture Department of the Technical University of Madrid (UPM). The approach is based on a chain of tools (a Delivery Agent; an Automatic Project Evaluator; and a Plagiarism Detection Assistant) that a small number of teachers can use to efficiently manage a course with a large number of students (400 each year). Students use this tool chain to complete the Assembly Language Programming laboratory assignments using an MC88110 simulator built in our department. Jointly, these tools have demonstrated over the last decade what important benefits can be gained from the exploitation of a global laboratory work management system. Some of the benefits may have a continuation in an area of growing importance that we have not yet explored, such as distance learning environments for technical subjects.

A new efficient assembly language teaching aid for intel processors

“…As reported in Ref. [21], the teaching efficiency was totally improved in the sense analyzed in Ref. [22].…”

“…However, the authors in Ref. [21] described the environment used in assembly language programming laboratory at the Computer Architecture Department of the Technical University of Madrid in which a new framework has been considered for the sake of providing a low staff-effort for mass courses projects. Basically, this framework was a semiautomatic tool chain used by students to complete their exercises.…”

A friendly online C compiler to improve programming skills based on student self‐assessment

“…For example: how many tests they have Figure 6 Screenshot of the student interface in order to solve a programming exercise. × × Automatic Mookshak [12] × × × × Automatic × ALP Laboratory [13] × × × Automatic × VHDL Laboratory [14] × × × × Automatic Web Laboratory [15] × Self-testing × Matlab Laboratory [16] × × × × Automatic C Laboratory [17] × × × Automatic C Online Compiler Self-testing × done of each exercise, how many wrong compilations they have done before executing, the mean time for solving each exercise, and which are the easiest and most difficult exercises in general, among other useful information.…”

“…Others have developed software solutions to assist teachers in their tutoring and assessing tasks. There are already many systems described in the literature that adopt this approach to offer an online environment for programming learning, that is, for Java [11,12], Assembly [13], VHDL [14], Web [15], Matlab [16] or C Languages [17], among others. These systems have their particular automatic evaluators, some of them are based on executing a set of previously designed and configured tests, comparing the output with the one generated by the instructor, which is called black box evaluation [18][19][20], and others systems even are focused on compiler error messages understanding [21] or on programming style analysis [22].…”

Detection of source code similitude in academic environments

“…The complexity of the problem in question is due to the different forms in which a student can cheat, as well as the pedagogical conditions under which programming courses facilitate learning within a controlled environment as proposed by the Jarpeb system authors [17], the CTPracticals module authors [18], or the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) laboratory work management framework [19]. An analysis of these restrictions [20] has determined that the degree of similarity among the students' assignments can arise from different causes and cannot be attributed exclusively to a specific type of plagiarism.…”