Instruction and experimentation system: A teacher\u27s aide to teaching Z80

The Instruction and Experimentation System (IES) is a tool designed to teach about the Z80 microprocessor. It caters to those who are interested in learning how to utilize the capabilities of the Z80 microprocessor, as well as, students who are going through a crucial transition from high level language programming to machine language programming. The system employs Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)-based concepts and adopts the learning by experimentation approach to provide effective learning. As a result of this, both tutorial and experimentation facilities are incorporated into the system, keeping in mind the importance of understanding and experience in the process of learning. The tutorial, which provides the understanding, discusses the basic concepts of the Z80 microprocessor such as the hardware organization and the instruction set. On the other hand, the experimentation provides experience by allowing users to develop programs and monitor program execution. Essential experimentation tools such as an assembler, an uploading and a downloading facility between the IBM PC/XT and Z80 Microprocessor Training Kit (MPF-1), and a tracing facility are provided for efficient assembly language programming. IES is a realization of an innovative use of computers in education. With the increasing affordability of microcomputers, other new and more productive means of utilizing computers as a medium of instruction can be explored