Project-based learning of reconfigurable high-density digital systems design: An interdisciplinary context based approach

It is acknowledged that most current engineering curricula can not keep up with technological developments, and that time constrains limits what material can be incorporated to it; topics of High-Density Digital Systems Design for the electrical and computer engineering programs is no exception and decision about which material is included is always a matter of discussion between how deep should technical information be presented versus practical application-related material and experiences. This paper presents a project-based learning model (PBL) of High-Density Digital Systems Design for one senior year course on the electronic engineering undergraduate program; proposed projects are system-level specific topics from a multidisciplinary collage of fields such as communications, instrumentation and control systems which are presented by collaborating instructors from those fields. High-Density Logic and Reconfigurable Device topics such as VHDL, FPGA architecture, timing and constraints are presented in context of specific problems as a way to promote students´ interests and experiences, systems required throughput establishes benchmarks with which compare designs from each team of students. Course strategy has assured collaboration of instructors from different fields, thus creating an opportunity to continue course projects on academy projects or thesis works.