Modern Electronics (was Re: List charter mods & headcount... ;

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Tue Jun 22 17:58:49 2004

> When I took my Computer Electronics Technician course, all of the test were
> done open book - but students still failed.
>
> The problem wasn't that the knowledge wasn't in the books, it was the students
> didn't know how to apply what they learned... :( When you changed a
> parameter of something it became too different for them. :(

THis reminded me of a computer science course I nearly did, but
fortunately avoided.

I got to see a previous year's exam papers, and there was a question
(IIRC) on the 80386/80837 coprocessor interface (those were current
devices at the time). The question was trivial to me if I'd had the data
sheets.

However, I was told that you weren't allowed to take the databooks into
the exam, you were expected to learn them (!). Now, nobody ever does that.

If I'd been giving that course, I'd have taught (say) the 80386 + support
devices, but set questions on the 68020 and its support chips. Of course
both Intel and Motorola databooks would be available in the exam.
Students would then actually have to think, rather than just repeat that
which they'd learnt, and IMHO that's a much more useful skill.

-tony
Received on Tue Jun 22 2004 - 17:58:49 BST