The discrete optimization MOOC: An exploration in discovery-based learning
| Alternate title | Issue No.37 Experiences and best practices in and around MOOCs |
| Published | March 2014 |
| Journal | eLearning Papers Volume 37, Issue March 2014, Pages 51-56 |
| Publisher | elearningeuropa.info |
| Original Publication | EMOOCS 2014 conference |
| Editors | Ullmo, Pierre-Antoine and Koskinen, Tapio |
| Country | Spain |
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 at | Barcelona |
| ISSN | 1887-1542 |
| Refereed | Yes |
| Rights | by-nc-nd/3.0 |
| URL | http://openeducationeuropa.eu/en/article/The-Discrete-Optimization-MOOC%3A-An-Exploration-in-Discovery-Based-Learning?paper=136477 |
| Export options | BibTex · EndNote · Tagged XML · Google Scholar |
AVAILABLE FILES
Viewed by 137 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
MOOCs: A systematic study of the published literature 2008-2012
Liyanagunawardena, Tharindu; Adams, Andrew; Williams, Shirley; McGreal, Rory; Conrad, Dianne
Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are a recent addition to the range of online learning options. Since 2008, MOOCs have been run by a variety of public and elite universities, especially in North America. Many ...
Match: ; mooc
Research on MOOCs in major referred journals
Babori, Abdelghani; Zaid, Abdelkarim; Fassi, Hicham Fihri
Over the last decade, several studies have focused on massive open online courses (MOOCs). The synthesis presented here concentrates on these studies and aims to examine the place held by content in these studies, ...
Match: mooc
The future of MOOCs: Adaptive learning or business model?
Daniel, John; Vázquez Cano, Esteban; Gisbert, Mercè
Currently, many MOOCs are designed as a collection of videos with a forum using some traditional distance learning models, but they do not promote adaptive and personalized learning. These features, together with the ...
Match: mooc; spain
Writing to learn and learning to write across the disciplines: Peer-to-peer writing in introductory-level MOOCs
Comer, Denise; Clark, Charlotte; Canelas, Dorian; McGreal, Rory; Conrad, Dianne
This study aimed to evaluate how peer-to-peer interactions through writing impact student learning in introductory-level massive open online courses (MOOCs) across disciplines. This article presents the results of a ...
Match: mooc
Negotiation and conflict resolution education in the age of the MOOC
Ebner, Noam
Even as online learning is increasingly embraced by institutions of higher education, the past decade has seen the arrival of yet another new educational vehicle: massive online open courses (MOOCs). These courses are ...
Match: mooc
Can new modes of digital learning help resolve the teacher crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Moon, Bob; Villet, Charmaine
Sub-Saharan Africa, more than any other part of the world, is experiencing a crisis in finding sufficiently qualified teachers to meet the needs of expanding school systems. The professional development support provided ...
Match: mooc
How are higher education institutions dealing with openness? A survey of practices, beliefs, and strategies in five european countries
Muñoz, Jonatan Castaño; Punie, Yves; dos Santos, Andreia Inamorato; Mitic, Marija; Morais, Rita
Open Education is on the agenda of half of the surveyed Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. For the other half of HEIs, Open Education does not seem to be an ...
Match: mooc
Supporting professional learning in a massive open online course
Milligan, Colin; Littlejohn, Allison; McGreal, Rory; Conrad, Dianne
Professional learning, combining formal and on the job learning, is important for the development and maintenance of expertise in the modern workplace. To integrate formal and informal learning, professionals have to ...
Match: ; mooc
Deconstructing disengagement: analyzing learner subpopulations in massive open online courses
Kizilcec, René F.; Piech, Chris; Schneider, Emily
As MOOCs grow in popularity, the relatively low completion rates of learners has been a central criticism. This focus on completion rates, however, reflects a monolithic view of disengagement that does not allow MOOC ...
Match: mooc
Student success prediction in MOOCs
Gardner, Josh; Brooks, Christopher
Predictive models of student success in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are a critical component of effective content personalization and adaptive interventions. In this article we review the state of the art in ...
Match: mooc
