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 · 743.4KB83 downloads



Viewed by 253 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

Democratising higher education through OER - What are the possibilities?
Kanwar, Asha
International Conference on Science and Technology for Economic Diversification, Trinidad & Tobago, 7 June 2013, Democratising Higher Education through OER: What are the Possibilities? by Professor Asha Kanwar, ...
Match: MOOC

Demographic shifts in educational demand and the rise of alternative credentials
Fong, Jim; Janzow, Peter; Peck, Kyle
To thrive in today’s fast-evolving job market, students need flexible ways to quickly develop and demonstrate new skills. Alternative credentialing helps solve this problem. UPCEA and Pearson surveyed 190 ...
Match: MOOC

Accessibility in MOOCs: The current state and next steps
Iniesto, Francisco
An effective open eLearning environment should take into account each learner?s abilities, learning goals, where learning takes place, and which specific devices the learner uses. Technologies used in Massive Open ...
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

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

GamES MOOC - Conceptual ideas and first steps towards implementation of a MOOC for children
Berkling, Kay; El-Husseny, Abdullrahman; Latt, Dennis; Petrov, Christian; et al.
This paper presents conceptual ideas and a first prototype towards establishing a GamES (GAM)ified (E)lementary (S)chool MOOC for children who do not have access to schools. The project is being developed across several ...
Match: MOOC

Massive open online courses: A traditional or transformative approach to learning
Vale, Katie; Littlejohn, Allison; Littlejohn, Allison; Pegler, Chris
This chapter examines potential benefits and limitations of MOOCs, using a case example of a major MOOC initiative:edX. This chapter begins by examining conflicting perspectives around MOOCs from the literature. Then ...
Match: MOOC

A design guide for open online courses
Pratt, Dave; Schmoller, Seb; Jennings, David; Buckman, Will; et al.
This guide is a comprehensive summary of how we went about creating Citizen Maths, an open online maths course and service. The guide shares our design principles and the techniques we used to put them into practice. ...
Match: MOOC

Reimagining the role of technology in education: 2017 national education technology plan update
U.S. Department of Education
The National Education Technology Plan is the flagship educational technology policy document for the United States. The Plan articulates a vision of equity, active use, and collaborative leadership to make everywhere, ...
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