SCHOOL OF COMPUTING

CSC 228Digital Logic

Fall 2015
Time & Place

Tue./ Thu. 9:30 am 10:45 am Shelby Hall 1308

Prerequisites

None

Credit
Instructor
Contact
Information

3 Hours
Dawn McKinney
dmckinney@southalabma.edu
Shelby Hall (SHEC) 1107 461-1598
Scheduled Office Hours:

Office hours

Required Text

Required
Materials

Format
Purpose of
Course

M,W,F 9:00 -10:00 am

M,T,Th 1:00 2:00 pm
And if available or by appointment
Digital Systems: Principles and Applications. Ronald J. Tocci and
Neal S. Widmer, 11th Edition (2011), Prentice Hall, Inc.
Graph Ruled Composition
Notebook (for homework, lab
work, and notes)

Web-enhanced (USAonline) under Logins at top of page,

Team-Based Learning (TBL)
This course gives students an appreciation of the operation of computers at the hardware
level.
According to The Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula by the ACM and the IEEE Computer Society:

Professional
Practice

The education that undergraduates in computer science receive must adequately prepare them for
the workforce in a more holistic way than simply conveying technical facts. Indeed, soft skills
(such as teamwork, verbal and written communication, time management, problem solving, and
flexibility) and personal attributes (such as risk tolerance, collegiality, patience, work ethic,
identification of opportunity, sense of social responsibility, and appreciation for diversity) play a
critical role in the workplace. Successfully applying technical knowledge in practice often requires
an ability to tolerate ambiguity and to negotiate and work well with others from different
backgrounds and disciplines. These overarching considerations are important for promoting
successful professional practice in a variety of career paths.

Page 1 of 11

Course Topics

The following topics will be covered:

Lab
Component
Special
Assistance

Attendance

Class
Participation

Exams

E-mail

Number Systems
Logic Gates and Boolean Algebra
Combinatorial Logic Circuit Analysis, Design and Simplification
Sequential Circuit Analysis, Design and Synchronization
Registers and Counters

The lab component of this course will be a hands-on experience using digital logic.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will
be afforded reasonable accommodation. The Office of Special Services will certify a disability and
advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations. Contact them at 460-7212 or on the web at
http://www.southalabama.edu/dss/
You are expected to attend class. If you miss class, you are still responsible for the
material covered in the lecture, any in class work, and any assignment that is made. Your
absence does not change the due date of an assignment. Extended due dates and
"make-up" tests will be granted only upon presentation of a note from your physician or
the Office of the Dean of Students.
In order to have a productive experience, you must be reading the textbook, reviewing
class notes, doing homework, participating in class activities, and keeping up-to-speed
with the course topics.
The midterm and final exams may contain questions of an objective nature, and/or short
problems, and/or short answer questions. The exam questions will generally be derived
from class notes, homework, class activities, textbook reading, and labs. You will be
provided with a practice exam for midterm in order to become familiar with the format.
The School of Computing requires that you have an e-mail account and that you check
your e-mail frequently for important announcements. If I need to get information to you
about our class, I will use e-mail as my primary method.
Things to remember when e-mailing:
Include your course number and section in the Subject Line.
Give your instructor 24 hours to respond or call SoC for immediate assistance.
Use correct spelling and grammar, and be as clear and brief as possible.
Include your name and jag number with all e-mail.

JagAlert

JagAlert is an academic program intended to help students be successful in 100 and 200
level courses. If you are not doing well, you will receive an email instructing you to see
your professor and academic advisor. Watch for the JagAlert email.

Page 2 of 11

Specific Course
Objectives

Topic# &
Title
1.
Number
Systems
and Codes

2.
Combination
al Logic

By the end of the semester, the student will be able to

1.

Recognize the basic characteristics of number systems. [Familiarity]

2.

Convert between various number systems. [Usage]

3.

Analyze a problem involving number systems and design a solution.

[Assessment]

4.

Describe the operation of and construct the truth tables for logic gates.
[Familiarity]

5.

Use Boolean algebra to simplify logic expressions. [Usage]

6.

Use either of the universal gates. [Usage]

7.

Draw timing diagrams for the various logic-circuit gates. [Usage]

8.

Convert a logic expression into a sum-of-products expression. [Usage]

9.

Use Boolean algebra and the Karnaugh map as tools for simplification.
[Usage]

10.

Appreciate of the potential of Boolean algebra to simplify logic circuits.

[Value]

11.

Appreciate of the efficiency of using Karnaugh maps for simplification.

[Value]

12.
13.

Analyze a combinational logic problem and design a simple logic

circuit. [Assessment]

14.

Explain the operation of edge-triggered flip-flops. [Familiarity]

15.

Draw the output timing waveforms of several types of flip-flops.

[Usage]

16.

Use state transition diagrams to explain the behavior of sequential

circuits. [Usage]

3.
Sequential
Logic

17.
18.
19.
4.

Appreciate of the benefits of universal gates. [Value]

Construct and analyze the operation of a latch flip-flop. [Assessment]

Analyze a problem statement involving sequential logic and design a
solution using a step-by-step process. [Assessment]
Explain the operation of a register. [Familiarity]

20.

Articulate that there are many equivalent representations of computer

functionality, including logical expressions and gates, and be able to use
mathematical expressions to describe the functions of simple
combinational and sequential circuits. [Familiarity]

21.

Compare and contrast synchronous and asynchronous systems.

[Assessment]

Counters
and
Registers

Page 3 of 11

Academic
Misconduct

The SOC Policy on cheating is:

Unless otherwise stated by your instructor, all work submitted for grading must be your own
work. This means that the work you submit for grading must be designed and implemented by one
and only one person, and that person must be you. Any deviation from this policy will result in a
failing grade for the course for all parties involved. This policy applies to examinations,
programming assignments, quizzes, and homework assignments.

Grading Scale:
90 100

Homework and
Labwork
Assignments

Online Writing
Support

Course and
Teacher
Evaluation
USA Academic
Disruption
Policy

80 89.99

70 79.99

60 69.99 D
59.99 or less F
F* - Assigned to students who fail to attend class and/or complete assigned
work after the first two weeks of class.
Exercises in preparation for each new big topic will be assigned on a regular basis. You
will also have a few lab assignments beginning the second week of classes. The
assignments must be completed neatly (showing your work) in your graph-ruled
composition notebook which will be checked at random times.
Online writing tutoring services through SMARTHINKING, an online tutoring service. Students
may enter the site by logging on with their Jag number and using the last four digits of the social
security number as the password. For log-on problems, technical questions and/or on-campus
writing assistance, contact the USA Writing Center at 251-460-6480 or e-mail csaintpaul@usouthal.edu. Information about the University Writing Center and Online Writing Lab
can be found online at http://www.southalabama.edu/writing/links.html
Student input is important for continued improvements for each course. At the end of
the semester, students will be given the opportunity to provide feedback about the
course and instructor. Please take the time to complete this survey.
The University of South Alabamas policy regarding Academic Disruption is found in The
Lowdown, the student handbook:
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicdisruption.shtml
Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or
interferes with any educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of
others, results in or threatens the destruction of property and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the
maintenance of order in an academic environment.
Students are expected to be cordial, courteous and respectful of faculty members and fellow
students. Cell phones, laptops, videotaping and other electronic devices may ONLY be used with
permission of the instructor.

Page 4 of 11

Graded
Components:

1)
a)

b)

c)

d)
2)

3)

Individual Performance
Individual Homework and Labwork: Will be assigned in class for each topic
which is designed to prepare you for the team learning activities. You will complete
your lab assignments in your graph-ruled composition notebook which will be
checked for completion. Homework and labwork will be graded with random
selection of specific items for grading. It will be your responsibility to make sure
your work is neat, correct, and recorded in your graph-ruled composition notebook.
Individual Attendance & Participation in Team In-Class Activities: Each topic
will be reinforced by active learning experiences in teams completed during class.
Individuals will earn an end of the semester participation grade for both attendance
and how well they contributed throughout the semester. This will be determined by
attendance, instructor observation, as well as the completeness and quality of your
graph-ruled notebook.
Individual Readiness Assurance Tests (iRATs): Each of the 4 iRATS will consist
of 10-question tests on the reading and homework assignments for each major topic
which is due the day of the RAT.
Individual Exams: There will be a midterm and a final exam.
Team Performance
Team Readiness Assurance Tests (tRATs): Five tRATs, which are the exact same
tests as the iRATs, will be completed by teams immediately following each iRAT.
On Team RATs all team members will receive the same grade.
Team Contribution
Evaluation by Peers: At midterm and again at the end of the term, you will be
required to evaluate your team members by assigning points based on the level of
contribution of each member. Each individual will evaluate the contributions of
all the other team members by assigning an average of 100 points to the other
team members. For example, members of a 6-person team:
1. Must assign a total of 500 points to the other 5 members in their team
(400 for 5-member teams, 600 for 7-member teams) and must differentiate
some in their ratings.
2. Must give at least one score of 100 or higher with a maximum of 110 and
at least one score of 90 or lower with the correct sum total.
3. A rubric will be provided to each team member.
4. You will also receive an individual score based on following instructions
and the quality of comments explaining each score.
5. Your individual Team Contribution grade will be based on a scaled
average which will include the input of instructor observations and the
quality of your evaluations of your team members.

Your final grade will be computed based each major performance area score:

The Individual Performance Area will be a weighted combination of the average of

the Homework & Labwork, Attendance & Participation, iRAT scores, and Exam
scores.

The Team Performance Area will be the average of the tRATS scores.

The Team Contribution score which will be the average of the peer evaluations
received from the other members of his or her team and the instructor.
Total score is calculated by multiplying each area by the weight.

Page 5 of 11

Grade Weights
Team Activity

The percentage of the grade that will be determined by scores in each of the major
performance areas (Individual Performance, Team Performance, and Team
Contribution) will be determined by representatives of student teams during the first
week of classes. These representatives will also decide on the relative weight of the
Readiness Assurance Tests vs. the Exams within the Individual Performance area. Grade
weights will be set for the class as follows:

Readiness
Assurance
Process (RAP)

Teams set preliminary weights and select a member to meet with other teams
representatives.
Team representatives will meet in the center of the room and develop a
consensus (i.e., each representative has to be in agreement about the grade
weights for the class as a whole).
The only limitations on your grade weight decisions will be that you adhere to
the indicated minimum percentages:
o of the total grade for each major performance area.
o for Individual Readiness Assurance Tests and Exams.

1.

Individual Reading, Homework, Preparation outside of class

Study Guide provided
Introductory Lecture provided

2.

Individual Readiness Assurance Test (iRAT) on above material

3.

Team Readiness Assurance Test (tRAT) immediately following iRAT

4. tRAT questions Appeals are granted to the team when they demonstrate that the
team understood the concept(s) but missed the question anyway or that team
confusion was due to inadequacies in either the question or the reading.
For appeals based on AMBIGUITY OF THE QUESTION, team must:
Identify the source of ambiguity in the question and
Submit a rewrite that would have helped team avoid the problem.
For appeals based on CONTENT ISSUES, team must:
State the reason(s) for disagreeing with the answer and,
Provide specific references from the reading material to support
your point of view and explain, with references from the readings
if possible, why you feel your selected response was the BEST one.
5. Granting of appropriate appeals and clarification of material

Counseling
and Testing
Services

Counseling and Testing Services provides a variety of free and confidential services for
students. For further information regarding this resource go to
www.southalabama.edu/counseling or call the office at 460-7051.

Page 6 of 11

Grade Weights

Scores in three major performance areas will determine the grades: (1) Individual
Performance, (2) Team Performance, and (3) Team Contribution.
Grade Weights:

Grade Weights and Percentages:

Within
Of
Area:
Total:

1) Individual performance Area

(50%-80%)
a) Individual Homework and Labwork
b) Individual Attendance and Participation.
c) Individual (4) Readiness Assurance Tests (10-20%)...
d) Midterm and Final Exams (50-60%).

____% *
20 %
10 %
____% *
____% *
100 %

2) Team Performance Area

Team Readiness Assurance Tests (4)

(10%-20%)

____% *

3) Team Contribution Area

Evaluation by Peers and Instructor

(10%-30%)

____% *

100 %
* The above ____ % Of Total will be determined by the procedures in the next section:
Setting the Grade Weights.
USA policy on
Academic
Conduct:

University of South Alabamas policy regarding Student Academic Conduct Policy is

found in The Lowdown

http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicconductpolicy.shtml
The University of South Alabama is a community of scholars in which the ideals of
freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the
individual are sustained. The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any
right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the Code of Alabama and to
educating students relative to their responsibilities.

Important
Dates:

First Day of Classes

Readiness Assurance Test #1
Labor Day Holiday
Readiness Assurance Test #2
Advising
Midterm Exam
Fall Break
Readiness Assurance Test #3
Last Day to Drop a Class
Readiness Assurance Test #4
Thanksgiving Holidays
Last Day of Classes
Final Exam

Tuesday, Aug. 18
Tuesday, Aug. 25 (tentative)
Monday, Sep. 7
Tuesday, Sep. 22 (tentative)
Thursday, Sep. 24 Wednesday, Oct. 7
Tuesday, Oct. 6 (tentative)
Thursday, Oct. 8 Friday, Oct. 9
Tuesday, Oct. 20 (tentative)
Friday, Oct. 23 (4:59 p.m.)
Tuesday, Nov. 24 (tentative)
Wednesday, Nov. 24 (5 p.m.) Friday, Nov. 27
Friday, Dec. 4
Thursday, Dec. 10, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Page 7 of 11

Week/
Date
1/8-17

Tentative Course Schedule

Topics & Class Activities
Bold, Italic, Red, Font for Tests, Labs, and Notebook Checkpoints
T SYLLABUS RAT #0; Assign Homework #1
Th Lecture: Intro 1st Big Topic for RAT #1: Ch.1&2

2/8-24

T RAT #1: Ch. 1&2, 8/25

Th Teams: Number Systems and Codes

3/8-31

T Teams: Number Systems and Codes/ Assign Homework #2

Th Lecture: Intro 2nd Big Topic for RAT #2: Combinational Logic

4/9-7

T RAT #2: Ch. 3&4, 9/22

Th Lab 1

5/9-14

T Lecture: The Complete 5-Step Design Process (Example 4-7)

Th Team Activity

6/9-21

T Lecture: Using K-map simplification (Example 4-15)

Th Teams: Design a Combinational Logic Circuit using k-maps

7/9-28

T Teams: Complete activity and evaluation and discussion

Th / Study Guide Midterm Exam & Assign Homework #3
T Midterm Exam,10/6

8/10-5
9/10-12

T Midterm Exam Results Discussion

Th Lecture: Intro 3rd Big Topic for RAT #3: Sequential Logic &
Digital Arithmetic
10/10-19 T RAT #3: Ch.5&6, 10/20
Th Lab 2
11/10-26 T Examples
Th Team Activity

Reading
Tocci
11th Ed.

Homework
Due

Ch. 1 & 2
Hwk #1

Ch. 3 & 4

Hwk #2
Notebook

Ch.1 - 4

Notebook

Ch. 5 & 6

Hwk #3

12/11-2

T Lecture: Preparation for Sequential Logic team activity

Th Team Acitivity
13/11-9 T Teams: Sequential Logic -Flip-Flops;
Th Lab 3/ Assign Homework #4
14/11-16 T Lecture: Intro 4th Big Topic for RAT #4: Counters and Registers
Th Lab 4
15/11-23 T RAT #4: Ch. 7, 11/24

Notebook
Ch. 7
Hwk #4

16/11-30 T Teams: Sequential Circuit Design/ Study Guide Final Exam

Ch. 1 - 7
Th Teams: Final Exam Review
17/12-7
Final Exam: Thursday, Dec. 10, 10:30 12:30 p.m.
Notebook
RELIEF FROM SEVERAL FINAL EXAMINATIONS PER DAY
Students are entitled to relief from three or four final examinations on the same day. If the student makes a formal written
request two or more weeks prior to the first day of final examinations, the student's final examinations will be rescheduled
normally on the following basis: Fall Semester- First exam may be rescheduled. The request is made to the dean of the
college in which the course is taught, and the rescheduling is done through that office. If more than one college is
involved, the appropriate deans will coordinate the rescheduling.

Page 8 of 11

FORM FOR PEER EVALUATION

Assessment of Contributions of Team Members
in Team-Based Learning Activities
Regarding Team Contribution Grade:
At midterm and at the final you will evaluate your team members by assigning points based on the
level of contribution of each member. Each individual will evaluate the contributions of all the other
team members by assigning an average of 100 points to the other team members. For example,
members of a 6-person team:
a.
Must assign a total of 500 points to the other 5 members in their team (400 for 5member teams, 600 for 7-member teams) and must differentiate some in their ratings.
b.
Must give at least one score of 100 or higher with a maximum of 110 and at least
one score of 90 or lower.
You are required to assess the contributions of each member of your team. This contribution should
presumably reflect your judgment of such things as: Participation, Problem-solving, Attitude, Work
Ethic, and Cooperation (see rubric)
It is important that you make note of people who truly worked hard for the good of the team and lower the
evaluation of those you perceived not to be working as hard on team tasks. Those who contributed should
receive the full worth of the groups grades; those who did not contribute fully should only receive partial
credit. Your assessment will be used mathematically to determine the proportion of the groups points that
each member receives. The value of your instructive comments will also be factored into YOUR team
evaluation grade.
Evaluate the contributions of each person in your team except yourself, by distributing
(numberOfTeamMembers 1) * 100 points among them. To get full credit, you must include a reasonable
comment explaining your choice of points for each area. SEE RUBRIC TO USE TO DETERMIN YOUR POINT
DISTRIBUTION AND TO GIVE YOU IDEAS FOR REASONABLE COMMENTS TO INCLUDE. This could include
praise, constructive criticism, or suggestions for improvement. Comments must be instructive and useful.
This is anonymous, and the other team members will not ever have access to this information. Include

instructive comments for each of 5 areas for each team member (see rubric).

Page 9 of 11

Pts:
(022)

Individual Team Members Name:

_________________________________________
Write a few descriptive words in boxes below for each for the five areas

Participation:
Problemsolving:
Attitude:
Work Ethic:
Cooperation:

Total Points: (0-110)

Individual Team Members Name:

Pts:
(022)

_________________________________________
Write a few descriptive words in boxes below for each for the five areas

Participation:
Problemsolving:
Attitude:
Work Ethic:
Cooperation:

Total Points: (0-110)

Pts:
(022)

Individual Team Members Name:

_________________________________________
Write a few descriptive words in boxes below for each for the five areas

Participation:
Problemsolving:
Attitude:
Work Ethic:
Cooperation:

Total Points: (0-110)

(numberOfTeamMembers 1) * 100

TOTAL Points

See instructions for Team evaluations in syllabus above

Page 10 of 11

Category/Points

(0-7)

(8-12)

(13-17)

(18-22)

Participation

Rarely provides
useful ideas when
participating in the
group and in
classroom discussion.
May refuse to
participate.
Does not try to solve
problems or help
others solve
problems.
Lets others do the
work.
Is often publicly
critical of the project
or the work of other
members of the
group. Is often
negative about the
task(s).
Rarely focuses on the
task and what needs
to be done. Lets
others do the work.

Usually provides
useful ideas when
participating in the
group and in
classroom discussion.
A strong group
member who tries
hard!
Refines solutions
suggested by others.

Routinely provides
useful ideas when
participating in the
group and in classroom
discussion. A leader
who contributes a lot of
effort.

Problem-solving

Sometimes provides
useful ideas when
participating in the
group and in
classroom discussion.
A satisfactory group
member who does
what is required.
Does not suggest or
refine solutions, but is
willing to try out
solutions suggested by
others.
Is occasionally publicly
critical of the project or
the work of other
members of the group.
Usually has a positive
attitude about the
task(s).
Focuses on the task
and what needs to be
done some of the time.
Other group members
must sometimes nag,
prod, and remind to
keep this person on
task.
Often listens to, shares
with, and supports the
efforts of others, but
sometimes is not a
good team member.

Is rarely publicly
critical of the project or
the work of others.
Often has a positive
attitude about the
task(s).

Is never publicly
critical of the project or
the work of others.
Always has a positive
attitude about the
task(s).

Focuses on the task

and what needs to be
done most of the time.
Other group members
can count on this
person.

Consistently stays
focused on the task and
what needs to be done.
Very self-directed.

Usually listens to,

shares, with, and
supports the efforts of
others. Does not cause
"waves" in the group.

Almost always listens

to, shares with, and
supports the efforts of
others. Tries to keep
people working well
together.

Attitude

Work Ethic

Cooperation

Rarely listens to,

shares with, and
supports the efforts of
others. Often is not a
good team player.

Actively looks for and

suggests solutions to
problems.

Page 11 of 11