Effective Teaching of the Physical Design of Integrated Circuits Using Educational Tools

International audienceThis paper presents the strategies used for effective teaching and skill development in integrated circuit design using Project-Based Learning methodologies. It presents the contexts in which these strategies are applied to IC design courses at the University of South Australia and the National Institute of Applied Science Toulouse, France. Collaborations among the faculty members of the two institutions have produced a set of learning resources and design tools to support the development of industry relevant design skills and lifelong learning skills. The courses enable students to learn about the most recent technological developments and their implications using a set of user friendly tools. The project-based learning methodologies, intuitive design tools and latest technology models have consistently produced high levels of student satisfaction with the overall quality of the courses at the two institutions. Index Terms— Integrated circuit design, VLSI Design, nanometer technology, project-based learning, lifelong learning