EE306: Introduction to Computing

Spring 2015

Course:
EE306; Unique #s: 15750, 15755, 15760

Lecture:
MWF 12-1PM in CPE 2.212

Recitation Sessions:
15750 meets F 9-10AM in WEL 4.224
15755 meets F 10-11AM in BIO 301
15760 meets F 11-12PM in GDC 2.410

Instructor:
Dr. Nina K. Telang
Office Hours: MWF 11-noon Room in ACA (yet to be decided) or by appointment
(There will be some days when office hours will be cancelled. Make-up hours will be announced in class.)
Email: telang@ece.utexas.edu

Teaching Assistants and Office Hours:

Will be posted on Canvas.

Text:
Introduction to Computing Systems, 2nd edition by Yale Patt & Sanjay Patel ISBN: 07-
237690-2 McGraw Hill, 2003

Course Objectives:

This is the first course in computing for students of computer engineering and electrical
engineering. The objective is to provide a strong foundation that a serious student can
build on in later courses across the spectrum of computer science and engineering. The
idea is that a more complete understanding of the fundamentals will help a student
acquire a deeper understanding of more advanced topics, whether that topic is in
computer architecture, operating systems, data base, networks, algorithm design, software
engineering, or whatever. The approach is "motivated" bottom-up. Starting with the
transistor as a switch, we build logic gates, then more complex logic structures, then
gated latches, culminating in an implementation of memory. From there, we study the
computer's instruction cycle, and then a particular computer, the LC-3 (for Little
Computer 3). The LC-3 captures the important structures of a modern computer, while
keeping it simple enough to allow full understanding. (From Yale Patt)

Prerequisites:
Students enrolled in EE306 are supposed to have received credit with a grade of at least C
or registration for Mathematics 408C or 408K. No formal programming experience is
expected.
Attendance:
You are expected to attend each and every lecture. We will be doing in-class
exercises and pop-quizzes, and you will be evaluated on your classroom participation.

Programming Assignments:
The first programming assignment is in the machine language of the LC-3. From there
we move up to Assembly Language, and learn how an assembler works. The remaining
programming assignments are in LC-3 Assembly Language. We cover good
programming style and practice, and teach debugging from the get go. An
LC-3 Simulator allows the student to debug his/her own programs. Input (via the
keyboard) and output (via the monitor) both use the physical device registers. System
service routines, written in LC-3 Assembly Language, are used to perform I/O functions.
They are invoked by user programs by the TRAP instruction and corresponding trap
vector. Subroutine calls and returns complete the LC-3 instruction set. (From Yale Patt)

Homework Assignments:
Homework assignments will be assigned (in addition to programming assignments). See
the semester schedule below for tentative dates for homework and programming
assignments.

Exams:
Two midterm exams will be held in class during the normal lecture times. The tentative
dates are listed in the schedule. The final exam will be held according to the university
schedule.

Grading:

Homework 10 %
Classwork (Pop quizzes and group exercises) 15 %
Programming Assignments 25 %
Exams 1-2 15% each
Final 20%

Lecture Schedule:

Week of Topics Chapter

1/21 Course Introduction; Hardware vs. Software; Computers as Chapter 1
Universal Computational Devices;
1/26 Bits, Integer representations; Logical Operations: AND, OR, Chapter 2
NOT; Other data type representations
2/2 Transistors, Gates – NOT, OR, NOR, AND, NAND; Chapter 3
DeMorgan’s Law; Combinational Logic Circuits
2/9 Storage Elements; Concept of Memory; Chapter 3
Sequential Logic Circuits – Finite State Machines
2/16 Von Neumann Model of Computation; Chapter 4
Fetch-Decode-Execute-Store
2/23 ISA – Introduction to Little Computer 3 (LC-3) Chapter 5
3/2 Review; Midterm #1 (3/6)
3/9 Problem Solving; Online Debugging Chapter 6
3/16 SPRING BREAK
3/23 Stored Program in LC-3 ISA; Assembly Language and the Chapter 7
Assembler
3/30 Physical I/O Chapter 8
4/6 TRAP Routines, TRAP Vector Tables Chapter 9
4/13 Subroutines; Stacks, Parameters Chapter 9
4/20 Examples; Review; Midterm #2 (4/24) Chapter 9
4/27 Interrupt Processing; ASCII/binary conversion Chapter 10
5/4 Calculator example; Review Chapter 10

Homework and Programming Assignment Schedule (An announcement will be

made in class if there is a change):

Homework #1 (due in class) 2/6 (Friday)

Homework #2 (due in class) 2/20 (Friday)
Homework #3 (due in class) 3/13 (Friday)
Programming Assignment #1 (due online) 3/13
Programming Assignment #2 (due online) 3/27 (Friday)
Homework #4 (due in class) 4/3 (Friday)
Programming Assignment #3 (due online) 4/17 (Friday)
Homework #5 (due in class) 4/29 (Wednesday)
Programming Assignment #4 (due online) 5/1 (Friday)
Programming Assignment #5 (due online) 5/7 (Thursday)

Class information on-line:

The on-line information for this course is available on the Blackboard site:
http://courses.utexas.edu. In order to use this site you need your EID. Some things that
will be available on this site:
• All lecture slides
• Homework and programming assignments for the semester.
• Assignment solutions.
• Any additional documents that you need for the course.

Web-based, password-protected class sites are associated with all academic courses
taught at The University. Syllabi, handouts, assignments and other resources are types of
information that will be available within these sites. Site activities could include
exchanging e-mail, engaging in class discussions and chats, and exchanging files. In
addition, electronic class rosters will be a component of the sites. Students who do not
want their names included in these electronic class rosters must restrict their directory
information in the Office of the Registrar, Main Building, Room 1. For information on
restricting directory information see:
http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/ferpa/ferpa.qs.faculty.htm

Getting help: If you have a question please ask! Do not wait till the last minute. I am
available to answer questions during my office hours (MW 10-noon), or by email.
Recitation sessions are an excellent opportunity for you all to receive help.

Drop Policy: The last day to drop this course without permission from the Dean is the
4th class day. After this day, drops are approved only in the case of health or personal
problems.
An engineering student should make an appointment with his/her departmental advisor to
discuss adding or dropping any course if the change will alter the classes that were
originally approved by the departmental advisor. If the add or drop requires the approval
of the Dean, then the student will need to schedule an appointment with an Academic
Advisor in the Office of Student Affairs, ECJ 2.200 (471-4321) to discuss the request.

Additional information can be found at:

http://www.engr.utexas.edu/current/policies/pol_add-drop-wdraw.cfm

Academic Dishonesty: Cheating will not be tolerated and will be dealt with according to
the policy established by the office of the Dean of Students. No collaboration on any
assignment will be tolerated.

Students with disability: The University of Texas at Austin provides, upon request,
appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more
information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, or the College of
Engineering Director of Students with Disabilities at 471-4321.