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 · 743.4KB94 downloads



Viewed by 373 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

Design for collective intelligence: Pop-up communities in MOOCs
Garreta-Domingo, Muriel; Sloep, Peter B.; Hérnandez-Leo, Davinia; Mor, Yishay
Many current authors point toward the heightening of networked individualism and how this affects community creation and engagement. This trend poses strong challenges to the potential beneficial effects of collective ...
Match: MOOC; Spain

Practical skills in AutoCAD through a mass open online course
Kaygorodtseva, Natalia; Luzgina, Valeriia; Cocchiarella, Luigi
Mass open online courses (MOOC) are popular recently. Their advantages are obvious: training at any time, from anywhere in the world, from the best teachers, with the help of quality content. But is it possible to learn ...
Match: MOOC

Open universities in the time of MOOCs: Reaching the unreached?
Kanwar, Asha; Balasubramanian, K.
Transcript and presentation slides of the 19th Prof. G. Ram Reddy Memorial Lecture, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India, 2 July 2014, Presented by Professor Asha Kanwar (co-written with Dr. K. ...
Match: MOOC

Starting MOOCs in African university: The experience of Cadi Ayyad University, process, review, recommendations, and prospects
Jouicha, Abdellah Idrissi; Berrada, Khalid; Bendaoud, Rachid; Machwate, Said; et al.
The increasing number of enlistees claiming their right to enroll in the programs of African Universities and the limited number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were the prime reasons of students overcrowding in ...
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

Validation of non-formal MOOC-based learning: An analysis of assessment and recognition practices in Europe (OpenCred)
Witthaus, Gabi; dos Santos, Andreia Inamorato; Childs, Mark; Tannhauser, Anne-Christin; et al.
This report presents the outcomes of research, conducted between May 2014 and November 2015, into emerging practices in assessment, credentialisation and recognition in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Following ...
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

Integrating a MOOC into the postgraduate ELT curriculum: Reflecting on students' beliefs with a MOOC blend
Orsini-Jones, Marina; Gafaro, Barbara Conde; Altamimi, Shooq; Qian, Kan; Bax, Stephen
This chapter builds on the outcomes of a blended learning action-research project in its third iteration (academic year 2015-16). The FutureLearn Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Understanding Language: Learning and ...
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

MOOCs @ Edinburgh 2013 – Report #1
Group, MOOCs@Edinburgh
A report summarising the experience of the University of Edinburgh of offering our first 6 massive open online courses (MOOCs) in partnership with Coursera
Match: MOOC