Online Course Sequence Versioning via Base and Child Classes
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging for educators to update online course sequences for specializations while allowing previous learners to continue their studies without disrupting their progress and introducing new sequences for new learners.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented where a base class maintains the original sequence of online courses for previous learners, and a child class generates a new sequence by adding or removing courses, allowing both previous and new learners to access their respective sequences through a directed acyclic graph (DAG) representation in the database.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a new sequence of online courses is created to update the specialization, then new learners can access updated content, but previous learners cannot continue with their original sequence
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments learners into different groups (previous learners and new learners) and assigns them to different sequence versions (original sequence and updated sequence). This segmentation allows each group to access the appropriate sequence without interference, resolving the contradiction between updating content and maintaining continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the course sequence definition from the specialization and stores it as a separate, versioned entity in the database. This extraction allows the sequence to be independently updated and versioned, enabling multiple sequence versions to coexist and be selectively assigned to different learner groups.
2Productivity
If the course sequence is updated in the database, then the new sequence is reflected for all learners, but existing learners are forced to restart or lose their progress
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating and storing multiple sequence versions in advance before assigning them to learners. This preliminary versioning allows updates to be prepared without disrupting existing learners, as their original sequence version is already preserved and can be maintained indefinitely.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the original course sequence and stores it as a separate versioned entity in the database. This copying mechanism allows the original sequence to be preserved for existing learners while a new copy can be modified and assigned to new learners, eliminating the need to disrupt existing learners during updates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sequence versions are maintained in the database, then both previous and new learners can access their respective sequences, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a nested structure where sequence versions are nested within the specialization entity. Each sequence version contains references to courses and can be nested within a hierarchy of versions, allowing multiple sequences to be organized in a structured, manageable way that minimizes complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a versioning dimension to the course sequence data model. Instead of having a single flat sequence, the sequence is extended into a multi-dimensional structure with version identifiers, allowing multiple sequences to coexist in an organized manner that manages complexity through structured dimensionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method can present a new sequence of online courses within a specialization for a group of new learners while maintaining a previous sequence of online courses within the specialization for a group of previous learners. The method can include maintaining a base class, associating a first learner with the base class, receiving a request to update a previous sequence of courses, generating a child class, associating a second learner with the child class, responding to a request for a sequence associated with the first learner, and responding to a request for a sequence associated with the second learner.