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 · 743.4KB77 downloads



Viewed by 231 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

A social learning space grid for MOOCs: Exploring a FutureLearn case
Manathunga, Kalpani; Hernández-Leo, Davinia; Sharples, Mike; Kloos, Carlos Delgado; et al.
Collaborative and social engagement promote active learning through knowledge intensive interactions. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are dynamic and diversified learning spaces with varying factors like flexible ...
Match: MOOC; Spain

Adoption of MOOCs by Emerging Countries Seeking Solutions to University Overcrowding: Literature Review and Feedback from the First Scientific MOOC Held by Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdullah University - Fez, Morocco
Naji, Khadija; Ibriz, Abdelali; Mourdi, Youssef
The adoption of various forms of distance education, particularly MOOCs (an acronym for Massive Open Online Courses), by universities worldwide has continuously gained momentum over the past decade. This is due not only ...
Match: MOOC

Construction of MOOC platforms in China
Zheng, Qinhua; Chen, Li; Burgos, Daniel
MOOC platforms in China have achieved quite some scale in China with its development since 2012. Built either by universities or enterprises on their own, or by regional coalitions or school–enterprise partnerships, ...
Match: MOOC

MOOC as a complex system
Nakano, Natália; Padua, Mariana Cantisani; Jorente, Maria José Vicentini; Bourgine, Paul; et al.
Considering the current scenario of technological innovations, re-shaped connections and relationships, discussions on new formats of knowledge construction and dissemination that meet the needs of human beings are ...
Match: MOOC

MOOCs as a method of distance education in the Arab World – A review paper
Adham, Raniah Samir; Lundqvist, Karsten Oster
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the Arab World are still in their infancy. Many Arab countries are now starting to launch their MOOC platforms; however, there are only a few who have actually implemented such ...
Match: MOOC

Multimodal profusion in the literacies of the Massive Open Online Course
Knox, Jeremy; Bayne, Siân
This paper takes a view of digital literacy, which moves beyond a focus on technical methods and skills in an attempt to maintain a broader approach that encompasses a critical view of the learning subject. In doing ...
Match: MOOC

Similarity and difference in fee-paying and no-fee learner expectations, interaction and reaction to learning in a massive open online course
Cross, Simon; Whitelock, Denise
The new pedagogical opportunities that massive open online course (MOOC) learning environments offer for the teaching of fee-paying students on university-accredited courses are of growing interest to educators. This ...
Match: MOOC

The learn to learn online MOOC: Supporting novice online learner development
Ostashewski, Nathaniel; Cleveland-Innes, Martha; Wilton, Dan; Parker, Nancy
This paper presents findings of a mixed methods study on the experience of novice learners in a MOOC designed to build skills for successful online learning. The Learn to Learn Online (LTLO) MOOC, a five week course ...
Match: MOOC

Open Educational Resources (OER)-based flipped classroom practice in an undergraduate course
Li, Yan; Zhang, Muhua; Bonk, Curtis J.; Zhang, Wenjun; et al.
The purpose of this study was to explore the process and effectiveness of Open Educational Resources (OER)-based flipped classroom practice in an undergraduate course named "Internet and Distance Education.'' The course ...
Match: MOOC

Nonnative English-speaking students’ lived learning experiences with MOOCs in a regular college classroom
Cho, Moon-Heum; Byun, Moon-Kyoung
The goal of this study was to gain in-depth understanding about nonnative English-speaking students’ lived experiences with massive open online courses (MOOCs) in a regular college classroom. Phenomenological ...
Match: MOOC