Temple University, Japan Campus, 2008-2009
I am experimenting novel learning situations on difficult/technical computer science topics such as “computer architecture”. In the class, rather than attending to a traditional lecture, students are asked to play the part of individual computer components, such as memory cells or processor, and to learn by experience. Reports written after the class are both fun and interesting: they show a very unsual mix of emotional and technical statements, many of them associated grammatically in the same sentences. This suggests that this novel teaching methodology has potential to create durable associative memory encodings, in which technical concepts that would otherwise be too arid are linked to personal and situated experience.
Class video:
Shot and edited by Lindee Hoshikawa, Nov. 2008
Teaching material:
Role sheets, distributed to each participant at the beginning of the session. These are self-contained, and only assume basic knowledge of binary arithmetics and assembly language.
After the class, students were asked to describe their experience in free text form, on the topic “what is it like to be a byte?” (a parody of T. Nagel’s “What is it like to a bat?”, Oxford 1986). I have been doing computer science research for more than 10 years now (sigh), and I must say this is the first time I ever hear someone talk about computers in this way:
I am special. I am important. What I say goes. I am awesome. I am the program counter.
Before I was 7 bits, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to become the program counter. I dreamed of keeping track of the register. I longed to give Mr. Control Unit the location in memory where the next instruction is to be read. That was many bytes ago and I now have the job I always wanted. Even though I enjoy my job, I have to take it very seriously. If I do not show up to work Mr. Control Unit is unable to read and write on my register. I particularly enjoy when Mr. Control Unit needs me. Mr. Control comes to my office and knocks on my door. When I hear the knock I slip the data under the door. Mr. Control Unit then reads the address and goes on his way to memory. Usually, Mr. Control Unit takes the address and adds one to it.
It is very exciting for me when this happens. (L.J.P., TUJ student)
