Since my demo night presentation about a possible reconfigurable logic class (focusing on FPGAs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FPGA ), I received a lot of feedback about what people would like to see in such a class. I'd like to summarize what I've heard:
A) There is a great deal of interest for classes on both the general field and the specific applications of reconfiguration logic. I should do some!
B) For the first class I should focus on the basics. Make the class project something relatively simple, such as a 4 function calculator, so that we can spend more time on the fundamentals of designing and implementing logic. Then do "expert level classes" and/or complex application "workshops" later.
C) Start with the cheapest/simplest board. While there is an appeal to a multipurpose board, the increased initial cost and increased cost/likelihood of frying a complex board makes it a poor choice for the intro class.
D) Have a lab kit that goes home with each student, even though this increases the cost of the class.
Any one disagree with any of that, or have other comments?
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Fin