The OER Knowledge Cloud makes use of cookies. By continuing, you consent to this use. More information.
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 · 743.4KB59 downloads



Viewed by 168 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

Digital Literacy Skills and MOOC Participation among lecturers in a private university in Nigeria
Soyemi, Opeyemi; Ojo, Adebowale; Abolarin, Mobolude
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) promote open access to learning materials, thereby, providing learning opportunities for professional development and lifelong learning. University lecturers, especially in developing ...
Match: mooc

Adapting a MOOC for research: Lessons learned from the first presentation of literature and mental health: Reading for wellbeing
Hodge, Rachael
The University of Warwick’s FutureLearn MOOC Literature and Mental Health: Reading for Wellbeing, which began its first presentation February 2016, was identified as an opportunity to conduct some research into the ...
Match: mooc

The year of the MOOC
Pappano, Laura
Match: mooc

Learning creative, learning MOOC
Pascariello, Maria Ines; Cocchiarella, Luigi
The work here presented concerns the realization of a MOOC hosted by a platform (www.europeanmoocs.eu), developed by the University of Naples Federico II under a CIP European Program, offering services to a variety of ...
Match: mooc

Architecture of a MOOC: Analytics
Prabhakar, T V
Week 2: Architecture of a MOOC, module 5 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

Implementation of Tel Aviv University MOOCs in academic curriculum: A pilot study
Soffer, Tal; Cohen, Anat; McGreal, Rory; Conrad, Dianne
The study presented in this paper examines the feasibility of using MOOCs as a learning environment in academic courses. This paper focuses on the students who participated in two MOOCs offered by Tel Aviv University ...
Match: mooc

An avalanche is coming: Higher education and the revolution ahead
Barber, Michael; Donnelly, Katelyn; Rizvi, Saad
This publication argues that the next 50 years could see a golden age for higher education, but only if all players seize the initiative and act ambitiously. If not, an avalanche of change will sweep the system ...
Match: mooc

Massive Open Online Course instructor motivations, innovations, and designs: Surveys, interviews, and course reviews
Zhu, Meina; Bonk, Curtis; Sari, Annisa
This mixed methods study explores instructor motivations for offering massive open online courses (MOOCs) as well as the instructional innovations used to enhance the MOOC design. The researchers surveyed 143 MOOC ...
Match: mooc

The battle for open: How openness won and why it doesn’t feel like victory
Weller, M.
With the success of open access publishing, Massive open online courses (MOOCs) and open education practices, the open approach to education has moved from the periphery to the mainstream. This marks a moment of victory ...
Match: mooc

Communication patterns in massively open online courses
Gillani, Nabeel; Eynon, Rebecca
Despite the hype and speculation about the role massively open online courses (MOOCs) may play in higher education, empirical research that explores the realities of interacting and learning in MOOCs is in its infancy. ...
Match: mooc