Enhancing Computer Organization Education: A Reformative Teaching Approach

This paper presents an innovative teaching approach to address key challenges in contemporary computer architecture and organization courses. Traditional courses often overemphasize conceptual definitions, leading to a surface-level understanding while neglecting in-depth principles analysis. As a result, students struggle to grasp design motivations and practical challenges. To overcome these limitations, we implement a comprehensive course reform, using the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) as a central example. Our approach integrates in-depth principle analysis, historical context, active learning strategies, practical applications, and collaborative projects. A key highlight is the introduction of tailored student projects that focus on designing RISC-V extension instructions for cryptographic applications. This hands-on experience enhances students’ understanding of computer architecture principles while fostering innovation and problem-solving skills. Preliminary results show significant improvements in students’ ability theoretical knowledge and design practical systems. To further enhance the curriculum, we propose strengthening industry collaboration, adopting interdisciplinary methods, establishing feedback mechanisms, and implementing capstone projects. This comprehensive strategy aims to cultivate critical thinking skills and better prepare students for careers in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.