The University of Southampton

A-Level Computer Science Logic and Arithmetic Kit

UK Electronic Skills Foundation

This initiative has been developed in partnership with the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF), and with the sponsorship of organisations including the Smallpeice Trust, and support and donations from a wide range of companies, charities and other organisations.

The Logic and Arithmetic kit incorporates core electronics concepts suitable for A-level Computer Science students, in particular covering aspects of Boolean operations, logic gates and base 2 (binary) number systems.

A-Level Computer Science Logic and Arithmetic Kit

The kit is split into two sections: 'Logic' and 'Arithmetic', with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) used to indicate logic states throughout.

The kit is currently not available to purchase, but limited numbers are being provided to schools for free. Schools/colleges interested in receiving kits, or organisations interested in sponsoring the scheme, can join our mailing list to find out more.

We are building teaching resources around these boards, for example our accompanying set of logic problems (and solutions) and online training video. If you would like to contribute resources, please contact us.

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This is normally a very abstract area to teach. My students were able to solve problems through experimentation and discussion, which they completely loved. The only problem now is getting them to leave at break and lunch!
Sean Vernall, Teacher at The Deepings School
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It made a dry, but very useful, topic come to life
Liz Brown - A Level Computer Science Teacher, Bolton School Girls' Division
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Students were very engaged with the kit and really enjoyed working their way through the booklet
Kirsty Lawrence, Teacher at Chellaston Academy, Derby
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Students learn better when they are able to visualise and put theory into practice
Chris Atkinson, Teacher at Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton
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These provided a fun, hands-on, engaging activity that brought the topic to life for my students.
Geraldine Spelman, Teacher of Computer Science at WMG Academy for Young Engineers, Coventry
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Fantastic resource, brilliant to support the a level as there is not many resources to engage physically.
Claire Gryspeerdt, Teacher at Wrenn School

Logic Section

Logic Section of the Logic and Arithmetic Kit

This can be used to explore Boolean operations and logic gates, and to implement simple logic functions and circuits. The board has three switchable logic inputs, a range of different logic gates (AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR, NOT), and three logic outputs. Orange LEDs indicate the state (logic 0 or 1) of the individual inputs and outputs of every gate.

Video Tutorial

This tutorial video walks viewers through the typical use of the Logic Section of the kit, and demonstrates how you can use it to connect inputs, logic gates and outputs together in order to implement and explore a logic problem.

Arithmetic Section

Arithmetic Section of the Logic and Arithmetic Kit

This provides an 8-bit two’s complement adder/subtractor circuit, offering the ability to perform A+B or A-B (where A and B are 8-bit binary numbers). This can be used to experiment with unsigned and signed binary arithmetic, as well as offering a different way to observe and understand binary number systems. This can even be extended to a 9-bit adder circuit, by using the Logic Section of the kit to implement a Full Adder.

Video Tutorial

This tutorial video walks viewers through the typical use of the Arithmetic Section of the kit, demonstrating how you can use it to add two 8-bit unsigned binary numbers, and add or subtract two 8-bit signed two's-complement binary numbers.

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The students loved seeing full adders being created practically and we managed to link the boards together. It really bought my lesson to life.
Morné Hoffman - St Helen’s, Northwood, London
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It was interesting to see the different approaches the students took to exploring the kits. Some followed the activities, others setting themselves more stretching challenges and others working in a team and getting the kits to work together.
Geraldine Spelman - Teacher of Computer Science at WMG Academy for Young Engineers, Coventry
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These are wonderful: my students loved the challenges and it really helped them to understand logic gates and adders
Head of CS Department, Frome College
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They really liked the physical nature of using the boards compared to online simulations
Nick Frost, Teacher at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
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These are an absolutely fantastic resource that make teaching computation and logic so much fun
Sean Vernall, Teacher at The Deepings School

 

Online Training

Training Video
Video Walkthrough of Training Handbook

To provide training to teachers who were not able to travel to the University to attend one of our CPD workshops, we have recorded a video which walks through the Logic and Arithmetic Electronic Engineering Kit's Training Handbook.

We are keen to receive any feedback that you might have about this video. If there are parts that are unclear, or additional things that you would like demonstrated, please contact us.

Electronics Everywhere Android Companion App

The Electronics Everywhere companion app
The Electronics Everywhere companion app

In conjunction with the UKESF, a team of undergraduate students at the University of Southampton developed an Android companion app to support teaching with the Logic and Arithmetic kit.

The app, available via the Google Play Store, supports teaching in a classroom environment by augmenting board functionality with an interactive board layout and logic design problems (with password protected answers).

The University cannot accept responsibility for external websites or software.

 

Logic Problems (and Solutions)

Logic Problems and Solutions

This set of Logic Problems, based on real engineering examples, is specifically designed to accompany our Logic and Arithmetic Kit.

The logic problems were created by Kiran Patel, a UKESF Scholar, while he was a student at the University of Southampton studying Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems. There are a total of 10 different problems, of increasing difficulty, with accompanying worked solutions.

 

Troubleshooting

If the Logic and Arithmetic board does not work, first of all:

  • Check the power is switched on; the power LED will be lit. If the power LED does not light, replace the battery (rechargeable batteries are fine) and remove all wires and jumpers from the board.
  • Ensure you do not directly connect "logic 0" to "logic 1".

If the kit still does not work then please email us.

It is essential that we maintain student engagement in Physics and Computer Science at A-Level as these are the gateway to engineering, hence our interest in working with UKESF and the University of Southampton to support teachers to inspire students’ interest in these subjects.

Dr Alan Begg - Chairman, The Smallpeice Trust

Our Sponsors, Supporters and Donors

Electronics and technology play a vital role in tackling society’s biggest challenges, but at the moment, not enough young people have the opportunity to experience these subjects in an engaging way, or consider what career opportunities they could lead to.

Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE - Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering

 

About The Team

The A-Level Computer Science Logic and Arithmetic Kit has been created by the following team from the University of Southampton and UK Electronics Skills Foundation:

Prof Geoff Merrett

Geoff is a Professor and Director of Outreach and Recruitment in ECS, and has led on the development of the A-Level Computer Science kit.

Dr Alex Weddell

Alex is a Lecturer in ECS, and is leading on professional development activities using the A-Level Computer Science kit.

Dr Daniel Spencer

Daniel is a Lecturer in ECS, and part of the team developing the A-Level Computer Science kit.

Stewart Edmondson

Stewart is the CEO of the UK Electronics Skills Foundation, and has led on securing funding to get the kits into schools.

Contact Us

For information on when kits are available, and other developments in the project, please join our mailing list.

For any other enquiries, or to contribute resources, please email kits@soton.ac.uk.