Logic

Previous knowledge

My previous knowledge of logic was good if not a little rusty. I studied logic circuits in 1992 as part of an electronics course so I understood all the basics of AND, OR, XOR, NOT, NAND and NOR gates. I am also familiar with truth tables, boolean expressions and boolean algebra.

Areas of strength

• I am good at problem solving.
• Previous subject knowledge is good.
• I have a good understanding of the concepts involved in boolean algebra and boolean expressions.
• I understand truth tables.

Areas of weakness

• Could do with brushing up my boolean algebra skills

Current Knowledge

It is a long time since I have done any logic work so the course helped me to regain some skills that had long since been forgotten.

I feel confident about my knowledge and my ability to teach this subject. I would be able to cover:

• Logic gates (And, Or, Not, Nand, Nor)
• Truth tables
• Logic circuits
• Simple boolean algebra
• The use of logic circuits in computers. (Half adder and full adder)

 

Strategies For teaching

Clear explinations of the terminology used in logic gates.

Use real life examples of logic gates usage. Questions that require two different states to be true or false and produce yes or no answers.

For example:

An And gate. The states required for it to rain are clouds AND cold air

Clouds	Cold Air	Rain
No	No	No
No	Yes	No
Yes	No	No
Yes	Yes	Yes

 

An Or gate. The states required to fill a bath from the taps is that the cold tap OR the hot tap is on OR both are on.

Cold Tap	Hot Tap	Bath Full
No	No	No
No	Yes	Yes
Yes	No	Yes
Yes	Yes	Yes

 

A Not gate. A light sensor is a good example of a NOT gate. Is it light or dark

Light Sensor Input	Light Bulb Output
On	Off
Off	On

 

Use Logic Gate Simulator website CS Kent. Go through exercises.

 

For information about what was covered in the course please follow the appendix 3 link below.

Appendix 3