Required Software.

We will use this MARS Simulator. Do not use any other MARS simulator that you can find on the web; we have a custom-built MARS Simulator

Book

This semester, we’ll be using an online textbook (Zybooks). The textbook will be the online version of: Patterson and Hennessy, Computer Organization and Design, 5th Ed. Morgan Kaufmann.

Zybooks are interactive textbooks that have animations and autograded activities. You are required to read and an complete the weekly Zybook activities. Each week, you have a required list of textbook sections assigned to you that will be due each Monday at 11 pm.

For example, these are the sections you need to read and answer by Monday, Jan 20th at 11 pm

Your points assignments will be based on the percentage of the reading you completed. All reading assignments will have the same weight on your final grade. You can ignore the points shown on Zybooks.

The intent is for the Lecture to be a time when we explain and expand on the textbook - instead of it being your first time to see each topic.

You have two options to access the book: 1. using the “Pay one price” program or 2. not using the “Pay one price” program.

Option 1. Using the “Pay one price” program

To access the online textbook, please log in to d2l and follow these steps:

  1. In d2l, go to our course -> Content
  2. Go to ‘Pay One Price and Inclusive Access Materials’
  3. Click on ‘Textbook Access or Opt Out.’ That would take you to a website to get your code. Click on “Reveal Access Code”
  4. Back in d2l, go to our course -> Content -> Zybooks
  5. Click on ‘Week 2’. Then, follow the steps to set up your account.

Option 2. Not Using the “Pay one price” program

To access the online textbook, please log in to d2l and follow these steps:

  1. If you have not opt out from the ‘Pay One Price’ program, go to d2l -> our course -> Content -> ‘Pay One Price and Inclusive Access Materials’, click on ‘Textbook Access or Opt Out’. That would take you to a website to opt out from the program
  2. Go to d2l -> CSC252 -> Content -> Zybooks
  3. Click on ‘Week 2’.
  4. Enter your payment information to purchase the textbook. Zybooks told me students can read the materials for free for 30 days, but I do not know if your scores will be sent to d2l. If you need more time to purchase the textbook, send me an email so we ensure that you receive credit for your work.
  5. Follow the steps to register your account.