Plain Language Summary: From theORy to application

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  • The book introduces a multi-faceted method of teaching Operations Research (OR) by integrating traditional educational tools with gamification and serious games. This innovative approach makes learning more engaging and helps students grasp complex OR concepts more effectively.

  • The educational framework comprises three main components: the textbook, a repository with coded examples and visualizations, and three board games. These elements can be used independently or together, offering flexibility in learning and catering to different learning preferences.

  • The book focuses on OR models that have significant relevance to real-world engineering problems, emphasizing practical applications. This helps bridge the gap between theoretical models and their practical use, making the subject more relatable and valuable for students.

  • The educational resources are part of an open-education initiative, making all materials, including the board games and code repositories, freely available. This ensures that the content is accessible to a wide audience, promoting further innovation and collaboration in the field.

  • By transforming abstract problems into interactive games, the book fosters enthusiasm and a deeper understanding of OR. This approach helps overcome the challenge of high abstraction levels in traditional OR education, making it more enjoyable and effective for students. Readers would be interested because this book offers a fresh and engaging way to learn OR, making complex concepts more accessible through interactive and practical methods.