Engaging students by intertwining puzzle-based and problem-based learning
Jalal Kawash · 2012
In this paper, we describe our experience in a first-year computer science course on problem solving that is aimed at non-majors. The majority of the target audience of this course is from management and social science faculties. The course is unique in the sense that it covers proper problem solving skills that are typically only covered in a course directed at computer science or engineering students. We describe how puzzles are used as bait that lures the target audience to subjects such as logic, algorithms, and graph theory. That is, we discuss how we intertwine puzzle-based and problem-based learning in order to engage, an often unmotivated, crowd. Our initial assessment of the approach shows that the use of puzzles is perceived by students as helpful to learn the course material. Furthermore, it is contributing to their interest in computing.