FAQ for ECP final exam and end of course Q&A

A student wrote:
>How do we take the final exam?

At the end of the course, I'll send out an announcement with detailed instructions.  When you're ready to take the exam, you will send a special message to the auto-responder, which return the final exam in PDF and DOC format, in the same way as the homework solutions are obtained.

Most students print out the exam and write their answers on it, then fax it back or scan and e-mail it back.  You can also edit the file and return it via e-mail.

Another student wrote:
>How much time will we have? Could you please give us some directions about the >final exam so we can figure out what to study... do we need to memorize >anything?

You will have 3.5 hours total: 3 hours for the final plus 30 minutes to retrieve and return it.  If you can do all the homework, three hours should be plenty of time.  You must be able to solve the same kind of problems that were in the homework assignments.  It is an open book, open notes exam.  So you do not need to memorize anything.  On the other hand you *do* need to be familiar with the subject matter so you'll know where to find what you need in the book or elsewhere.  You WON'T have time to learn the instruction set and other material that was the subject of lectures and homework during the exam!  The questions emphasize the topics covered in the lectures, homework, and reading.

The final exam will cover the 8051 assembly language instruction set, number systems, carry vs. overflow, use of the serial port, timers, and other features of the 8051.  These items are covered in the text book, along with the required information on the serial port and timer/counters.

The textbook IS intended as a reference for programming the SDK with the instruction set, but it is ALSO intended to supplement the lecture discussion on topics such as number systems, carry vs. overflow, the 8051's instruction set, architecture, internal counters and serial port.

The exam problems include:
 - binary, hex, decimal number systems and conversions
 - unsigned and signed 2's complement numbers and arithmetic
 - determining if a result is valid
 - the difference and use of carry and overflow bits
 - finding and correcting bugs in a page of assembly language code
 - writing about a half page of assembly language code
 - operation of the timers and ALSO in counter mode!
 - operation of the 8051's internal serial port

The emphasis on the final exam is on the things that were covered in the lecture and homework, but you will be held responsible for the reading and the entire 8051 instruction set, so you should have the text and other 8051 reference materials at hand if you need to look up a specific instruction, etc.  You will probably want to have a calculator handy too.

The exam is open book and notes, but it is an INDIVIDUAL effort, and all answers must be your own.


>Why didn't I get a reply to my project e-mail?

Projects are not handled by the auto-responder.  If you want an acknowledgement of receipt, use return receipt on your e-mail or request an acknowledgement via e-mail to ecp1@hte.com ONLY.

** PLEASE: Remember to use ecp1@hte.com *ONLY* for all correspondence!  DO NOT use or cc any other e-mail address, including my personal address or WebCT, as your message may get caught in my spam filters.


 - Ken