A Comparative Analysis of Student Performance in Learning Assembly Programming Language using Online EdSim51 Simulator vs. In-lab Micro TRAK/51-C2 Kit
The purpose of this study was to determine which method proved more effective in learning assembly programming language over the period of 6 years. This study was implemented in microcontroller laboratory CPE-364 at Computer Engineering Department, Kuwait University. The first group is composed of 120 students attending the traditional in-lab classes, while the second group comprises 86 students attending online classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The study determines which modality resulted in better student performance to learn the assembly language. In microcontroller laboratory, students usually learn to become familiar with programming model and instruction set of 8051, understand the process of assembling and running an 8051 program, debug and run the program. The in-lab students use the Micro TRAK/51-C2 kit with the Micro IDE software. However, the online students use the 8051 Simulator EdSim51. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and t-test. Results from the current study showed that there are no significant differences between the two group scores. The p-value= 0.072> α =0.05 for both tests, where α is the significance level of the test. These data translate the similarity of students’ performance in learning assembly programming language in both in-lab Micro TRAK kit with Micro IDE software and online EdSim simulator.