Exploring the Effectiveness of Web-Based Programming Environments for MOOCs: A Comparative Study of CodeOcean and OpenJupyter

Programming courses offered by openHPI, the European MOOC platform of the Hasso Plattner Institute, feature hands-on programming exercises to support learners in practicing the newly acquired skills. These exercises are facilitated by two tools: CodeOcean and Open Jupyter. Code Ocean is user-friendly and suitable for beginners, while OpenJupyter is more advanced and used in data science courses. In this paper, we compare and discuss the advantages and limitations of both tools, providing recommendations for instructors and researchers in programming courses. We also address technical details, such as scalability and execution environments. Furthermore, we explore future research possibilities, particularly in learner collaboration and automated feedback. Our work supports learners in acquiring knowledge and testing it at their own pace, with individualized feedback and minimal technical requirements, contributing to an open education landscape in programming education.