Operations Research in Online Environment Using ICT in Higher Technical Education

Abstract

Operations research is now in the renaissance because organizations are optimizing their processes using analytical methods and different research approaches to improve the managing of processes/tasks/problems. Operations research, requiring analytical, systems thinking, the ability of abstract thinking, so it is considered by its complexity and the scope of required knowledge to be a subject that is a challenge to master for students of higher technical education. The objective of the paper is to analyze and compare the situation in the teaching of operations research, identify the prerequisites for the development of analytical thinking of future graduates, and predict the possibilities for improving the education of operations research during distance learning. Part of the paper deals with the description and comparison of areas and methods of operations research taught at technical higher education institutions (HEIs) and universities in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, including the use of software support for calculating and learning the curriculum. The analysis considers results about teaching subjects related to the operations research, comparison of the form, methods, research areas, and software used for teaching at Slovak and Czech HEIs and universities, and semi-structured interviews/surveys among students about the quality of education process identified areas where there is potential for improvement. At the same time, the results of distance education were analyzed the degree of student satisfaction, awareness, comprehensiveness to conduct the new possibilities and threats of distance education. The statistical evaluation of data indicates strong relationship between the two variables: satisfaction of students and awareness of students about online education.