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 245 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

E-learning, online education and open education: A contribution to a theoretical approach
Aires, Luisa
PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE ATTACHMENT ONLY Resumo O presente artigo resulta das reflexões desenvolvidas no âmbito do Observatório da Qualidade do Ensino a Distância e e-Learning sediado na Universidade Aberta e, ainda, da ...
Match: MOOC

Coursera’s introductory human physiology course: Factors that characterize successful completion of a MOOC
Engle, Deborah; Mankoff, Chris; Carbrey, Jennifer
Since Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are accessible by anyone in the world at no cost, they have large enrollments that are conducive to educational research. This study examines students in the Coursera MOOC, ...
Match: MOOC

The journey of SWAYAM: India MOOCs initiative
Kanjilal, Uma; Kaul, Pradeep
Under the ‘Digital India’ Initiative of Government of India, one of the thrust area is ‘Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs)’. Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India has embarked on a major ...
Match: MOOC

Moving forward with TESSA: What is the potential for MOOCs?
Stutchbury, Kris
Teacher Education in sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) is an educational development project run by The Open University, UK. Working collaboratively with partners in Africa, The Open University published (in 2010) a set Open ...
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

Opportunities and threats of the MOOC movement for higher education: The European perspective
Schuwer, Robert; Jaurena, Ines Gil; Aydin, Cengiz Hakan; Costello, Eamon; et al.
The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) movement is the latest ‘big thing’ in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) which threatens to transform Higher Education. Both opportunities and threats are extensively discussed in ...
Match: MOOC

The maturing of the MOOC: Literature review of Massive Open Online Courses and other forms of online distance learning
Haggard, Stephen; The Centre for Distance Education (CDE); The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (OBHE)
Executive Summary This survey of MOOC and ODL literature aims to capture the state of knowledge and opinion about MOOCs and ODL, how they are evolving, and to identify issues that are important, whether consensual or ...
Match: MOOC

Enhanced peer assessment in MOOC evaluation Through assignment and review analysis
Alcarria, Ramón; Bordel, Borja; de Andrés, Diego Martín; Robles, Tomás
The rapid evolution of MOOCs in recent years has produced a change in the education of students and in the development of professional skills. There is an increasing pressure on universities to establish procedures for ...
Match: MOOC

Why openess in education?
Wiley, David A.; Green, Cable; Oblinger, Diana. G.
In this chapter, we explore a number of ways openness affects the practices of teaching and learning and the motivations behind supporters of these emergent practices. We discuss the three principal influences of ...
Match: MOOC

Hei Mookie! Where do I start? The role of artifacts in an unmanned MOOC
Ponti, Marisa
Three artifacts were examined in a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) called Mechanical because there is no professor to offer the course. Employing the notion of inscription from actor-network theory, the analysis ...
Match: MOOC