A NOVEL APPROACH FOR TEACHING SYSTEM SOFTWARE BY INTEGRATING WITH OTHER COURSES

Nagarathna D Kulenavar, Shameeda Begum T

Abstract: Teaching individual courses in our curriculum is done with inadequate focus on integrating the learning with other courses. This results in students not appreciating the courses showing less interest in learning process. This paper presents the new approach developed by us to teach the system software theory and practical courses for the computer science students. In this approach we are integrating the System Software course with the learning in the course on Microprocessor 8086, Microcontrollers and its Applications. Further this paper elaborates as how the use of a hypothetical machine in conventional teaching gave the freedom to teach system software concepts but failed to connect to reality. The method followed in this new teaching approach is that it relates all the concepts taught in system software with the real-time system/machines instead of hypothetical machine. It provides the flow that correlates the course with the existing software. This paper also explains how the changes in technology helped to consider real-time machine as an example while teaching concepts of system software rather than hypothetical machine. This paper also through light on the limitations of teaching the System Software course with hypothetical machine, the challenges faced during the change in syllabus and a brief explanation on the chosen real-time machine. We have observed better learning of the concepts of systems software through this approach. The result analysis prove, connecting the learning in courses taught in early semesters in the delivery is observed to help in building the learning context. It has resulted in improving their performance and understanding in the course.

Keywords: System Software, teaching approach, real-time machine, hypothetical machine, practical approach.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0311077