A web-based computer architecture course database

Abstract

A Web-based database of course materials in computer architecture is being developed. Its goal is to allow instructors at different institutions to share independently developed materials, and to collaborate in developing new materials. This database comprises problems downloaded from the Web sites of courses in computer architecture at universities around the world. The site is searchable by classification or fulltext string for problems on particular topics in computer architecture. The database currently contains homework and test questions. It is planned also to include lecture notes, laboratory exercises, and multimedia teaching materials developed at a number of universities. Materials are gathered for the database by obtaining instructors' permission to include materials from their course Web sites. Scripts have been developed to fetch their material over the Web, separate homework assignments and tests into individual problems, and store them in the database. This project has been developed in conjunction with the WebAssign project for on-line homework submission and grading. Where the format permits, homework and test problems can be automatically graded. At this writing, the database contains 500 problems. Although this prototype is specific to the field of computer architecture, the software for building the database is usable for constructing databases in almost any academic field.