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 · 743.4KB93 downloads



Viewed by 341 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

MOOC usage: A Review and Prospect
Kulkarni, Savita; Bhattacharya, Shubhasheesh
The purpose of this research is to investigate the combined impact of main components of massive open online courses (MOOCs), such as MOOC kinds, instructional design, and learner-related characteristics, on actual MOOC ...
Match: MOOC

Design framework for an adaptive MOOC enhanced by blended learning: Supplementary training and personalized learning for teacher professional development
Gynther, Karsten
The research project has developed a design framework for an adaptive MOOC that complements the MOOC format with blended learning. The design framework consists of a design model and a series of learning design ...
Match: MOOC

Fit for Purpose: a cohort-centric approach to MOOC design
King, Carolyn; Doherty, Kathleen; Kelder, Jo-Anne; McInerney, Fran; et al.
How do you design a quality massive open online course (MOOC) that will be ‘fit for purpose’? The Understanding Dementia MOOC is an initiative of the University of Tasmania’s Wicking Dementia Research and ...
Match: MOOC

MOOCs and the funnel of participation
Clow, Doug
Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) are growing substantially in numbers, and also in interest from the educational community. MOOCs offer particular challenges for what is becoming accepted as mainstream practice in ...
Match: MOOC

Awareness towards Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and their usage for Teacher Education in India
Singh, Gaurav; Chauhan, Rashmi
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system has changing fast with technological advancements and interventions. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have emerged as game changers as they are flexible in time and place as ...
Match: MOOC

A policy brief on MOOCs
Porter, David; Beale, Russell; Daniel, John; McGreal, Rory; Prabhakar, T V
A MOOC (massive open online course) is an online course that normally requires no prior qualifications for entry, can be accessed by anyone who has an Internet connection, and includes large or very large numbers of ...
Match: MOOC

The EMMA experience. Emerging patterns and factors for success
De Rosa, Rosanna; Ferrari, Chiara; Kerr, Ruth; Kloos, Carlos Delgado; et al.
Since 2008, when the first experiment with MOOCs took place, much has been said, written and explored. However, almost ten years later we are unable to say whether MOOCs are really a desirable learning experience and, ...
Match: MOOC; Spain

Exploring the MOOC format as a pedagogical approach for mLearning
de Waard, Inge; Koutropoulos, Apostolos; Keskin, Nilgün Özdamar; Abajian, Sean C.; et al.
This paper takes a look at the MOOC format as a possible pedagogical approach to fit mobile learning (mLearning) based on mutual affordances of both contemporary learning/teaching formats. The paper presents a case ...
Match: MOOC

MOOCs and the claim of education for all: A disillusion by empirical data
Rohs, Matthias; Ganz, Mario
MOOCs have shaped the discussion on learning with digital media for the last few years. One claim of MOOCs in the tradition of Open Educational Resources is to expand access to education, mainly in the field of higher ...
Match: MOOC

Where is research on massive open online courses headed? A data analysis of the MOOC Research Initiative
Gasevic, Dragan; Kovanovic, Vitomir; Joksimovic, Srecko; Siemens, George; et al.
This paper reports on the results of an analysis of the research proposals submitted to the MOOC Research Initiative (MRI) funded by the Gates Foundation and administered by Athabasca University. The goal of MRI was to ...
Match: MOOC