Integrating active and cooperative learning strategies in a digital systems design course

The digital systems area is both a target of technological innovations and a common requirement in many engineering fields. Important technological trends in this area are the use of hardware description languages as a design tool and the continuous improvement of the fabrication technology. Consequently, industry has a high demand for new graduating engineers with qualifications such as: self-guided learning, design skills and teamwork skills. This paper describes the experience achieved by formally incorporating active and cooperative learning strategies to the second-year digital systems course based upon the redesign framework implemented at ITESM Campus Monterrey, Mexico. The digital systems course material is naturally suitable for active and cooperative learning activities. The strategies described in this paper exploit the nobility of the course material by using technological support such as Verilog and PLD/PLA programming tools. The expected benefits were obtained from special course evaluations and professor experiences.