An educational tool for teaching data transfer in computer

An ever-increasing number of software simulation tools have been available for teaching computer concepts including hardware and software in undergraduate programs. Most tools are strong in terms of simulate CPU behavior to allow students designing high-level and assembly language. However, many of these tools do not help students visualize system behavior and little simulators introduce the concepts like data transfer methods that are important for the student to learn the internal operation of a computer. In this paper, two simulation tools are described. It facilitates learning and conceptual understanding of programmed I/O and DMA data transfer operations in a computer in an efficient, direct, and long-lasting way.