On the use of simulation and parallelization tools in computer architecture and programming courses

Computer architecture and programming are disciplines that require extensive experimentation with computer tools such as simulators and compilers. At the authors' universities, several tools are being incorporated in courses at the junior and senior levels by using a powerful, web-based network-computing system as a computational and educational resource. The educational content includes examples, manuals, homeworks, and other related information. The web-based computing system (PUNCH: Purdue University Network Computing Hubs) provides transparent access to computers and tools from any machine capable of browsing the web. The result is a system that supports the integration of a large number of tools in undergraduate classes. The system is publicly accessible and, upon request, available for use by other universities and educators. This paper describes the existing system, discusses examples of tool-integration in existing classes and reviews the current status of the project. It also reports on experiences at the three institutions of the authors on the use of PUNCH and the inclusion of tool-based homeworks and content into undergraduate classes.