A Project Based Methodology to Teach a Course on Advanced Digital Systems Design

This paper presents a project based teaching experience in a course on advanced digital systems design, with emphasis on design methodologies and laboratory assignments. The use of FPGA devices as the most suitable implementation technology for teaching digital design is described. The course structure, oriented to the develop-ment of real working digital systems, challenges the students and increases their motivation. This improves the learning process and the productivity of classes. The laboratory works are deployed on a FPGA based platform that implements a real-time video processing chain, from a low cost digital camera to a standard desktop monitor. Examples of proposed laboratory projects in a recent course edition are presented and their evaluation results are analysed