The discrete optimization MOOC: An exploration in discovery-based learning
Coffrin, Carleton and Hentenryck, Pascal Van

Alternate titleIssue No.37 Experiences and best practices in and around MOOCs
PublishedMarch 2014
JournaleLearning Papers
Volume 37, Issue March 2014, Pages 51-56
Publisherelearningeuropa.info
Original PublicationEMOOCS 2014 conference
EditorsUllmo, Pierre-Antoine and Koskinen, Tapio
CountrySpain

ABSTRACT
The practice of discrete optimization involves modeling and solving complex problems which have never been encountered before and for which no universal computational paradigm exists. Teaching such skills is challenging: students must learn not only the core technical skills, but also an ability to think creatively in order to select and adapt a paradigm to solve the problem at hand.
This paper explores the question of whether the teaching of such creative skills translates to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). It first describes a discovery-based learning methodology for teaching discrete optimization, which has been successful in the classroom for over fifteen years. It then evaluates the success of a MOOC version of the class via data analytics enabled by the wealth of information produced in the MOOC.

Keywords computer science education · discovery-based learning · MOOC · problem solving skills

Published atBarcelona
ISSN1887-1542
RefereedYes
Rightsby-nc-nd/3.0
URLhttp://openeducationeuropa.eu/en/article/The-Discrete-Optimization-MOOC%3A-An-Exploration-in-Discovery-Based-Learning?paper=136477
Export optionsBibTex · EndNote · Tagged XML · Google Scholar



AVAILABLE FILES
From-field_37_2.pdf · 743.4KB86 downloads



Viewed by 294 distinct readers




CLOUD COMMUNITY REVIEWS

The evaluations below represent the judgements of our readers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cloud editors.

Click a star to be the first to rate this document


POST A COMMENT
SIMILAR RECORDS

Design framework for an adaptive MOOC enhanced by blended learning: Supplementary training and personalized learning for teacher professional development
Gynther, Karsten
The research project has developed a design framework for an adaptive MOOC that complements the MOOC format with blended learning. The design framework consists of a design model and a series of learning design ...
Match: MOOC

Architecture of a MOOC: Assessment
Prabhakar, T V
Week 2: Architecture of a MOOC, module 4 of the MOOC on MOOC course offered by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) & Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in September 2014. This resource contains a video link, ...
Match: MOOC

Conclusions of construction and development of MOOCs in China
Zheng, Qinhua; Chen, Li; Burgos, Daniel
On the whole, China has made remarkable achievements in construction of MOOCs, but it is also facing serious challenges. In the following parts, we are going to start from the perspective of the sustainable development ...
Match: MOOC

Research on MOOCs: Current trends and taking into account of content
Babori, Abdelghani; Fassi, Hicham Fihri; Zaid, Abdelkarim
This study explores the research trends of MOOCs to gain a deeper understanding of the MOOC phenomenon. It also aims to question whether or not content is taken into account in these studies, especially those produced ...
Match: MOOC

MOOC design principles. A pedagogical approach from the learner’s perspective
Guàrdia, Lourdes; Maina, Marcelo; Sangrà, Albert; Koskinen, Tapio; Mor, Yishay
The debate around Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is much more focused on the social, institutional, technological and economical aspects than on the need for development of new pedagogical approaches that provide ...
Match: MOOC; Spain

Towards a conceptual framework to scaffold self-regulation in a MOOC
Sambe, Gorgoumack; Bouchet, François; Labat, Jean-Marc; M. F. Kebe, Cheikh; et al.
MOOCs are part of the ecosystem of self-learning for which self-regulation is one of the pillars. Weakness of self-regulation skills is one of the key factors that contribute to dropout in a MOOC. We present a ...
Match: MOOC

Designing Your First MOOC from scratch: Recommendations after teaching “Digital Education of the Future”
Alario-Hoyos, Carlos; Pérez-Sanagustín, Mar; Kloos, Carlos Delgado; Gutiérrez, Israel; et al.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been a very promising innovation in higher education for the last few months. Many institutions are currently asking their staff to run high quality MOOCs in a race to gain ...
Match: MOOC; Spain

Global OER Graduate Network: Raising the profile of research into open education
de los Arcos, Beatriz; Farrow, Robert; Weller, Martin; Pitt, Rebecca; et al.
Overview of papers on enhancement of European Higher Education as presented during the Online, Open and Flexible Higher Education Conference in Rome, October 2016 The Global OER Graduate Network (GO-GN) is a global ...
Match: MOOC

Trends and new developments in Open Education
Kanwar, Asha
Lecture, Open University of Tanzania, 6 August 2013, Presented by Professor Asha Kanwar, Commonwealth of Learning // It is a pleasure and an honour to be at the Open University of Tanzania, which has always been a ...
Match: MOOC

Second language learning in the context of MOOCs
Wu, Shaoqun; Fitzgerald, Alannah; Witten, Ian H.
Massive Open Online Courses are becoming popular educational vehicles through which universities reach out to non-traditional audiences. Many enrolees hail from other countries and cultures, and struggle to cope with ...
Match: MOOC; Spain