To Flip or Not to Flip

David KaeliNortheastern University

Boston, MA

How can a Computer Architecture class benefit from a flipped classroomTheory topics can be covered effectively in online

materials Number systems Pipelining concepts Hazards and microarchitectural solutions ISAs Addressing Caching Branch prediction

Each of these can be easily covered in online materials

Online quizzes are needed to insure that students come to class prepared

How can a Computer Architecture class benefit from a flipped classroom

Bring simulators, profilers, performance monitors, and actual hardware into the classroom to help understand concepts

Utilize programmable hardware to realize selected hardware components

Present real-world problems to motivate exploration

Have students defend their design choices through debates

Have students critique the designs of their classmates

Will this result in a better educational experience for the students?

Students have to agree to take the out-of-class activities seriously

Activities in the classroom have to use time wisely

Students have the opportunity to learn more than they would normally

One way to increase learning is to provide active learning platforms that students can work with outside of the classroom/lab