Title: A nonlinear goal programming approach with a modified search algorithm to achieve student outcomes in college education

Authors: Murat Cal; Sibel Atan

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering Technology, American College of the Middle East, Ahmadi, Kuwait ' Department of Economics, Haci Bayram Veli University, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract: We introduce a modified search algorithm to solve a nonlinear goal programming model to achieve multiple goals to the highest extent while minimising the total deviation from these targeted goals. We develop our model in an education environment that implements gamification in teaching hours, and learning outcomes are evaluated by assessments. Our parameters are then evaluated through experimental analysis and we provide insights on their accuracy. It is shown that our algorithm finds solutions within 1%-10% of the optimal solutions for different intervals, and these solutions are found instantaneously. Our model answers how much time of a teaching hour should be allocated for gamified elements, and how a game-based environment can be established together with an evaluation system. The study in that sense is unique as it combines a nonlinear goal programming model with gamification in teaching and it provides a framework to evaluate student outcomes to cope with educational objectives.

Keywords: nonlinear goal programming; heuristic algorithms; education theory; optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2023.133744

International Journal of Operational Research, 2023 Vol.48 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Received: 05 Sep 2020
Accepted: 15 Jan 2021
Published online: 03 Oct 2023 *

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