Teaching “Evolutionary Computation” at the University of Stuttgart

Up to now there is no standardized strategy in how to teach evolutionary algorithms. Surely the answer to this question depends on the teaching context and the target group. But in the field of scientific teaching it is essential to abstract from paradigm orientation to a more general concept of evolutionary computing and to the underlying foundation. At the University of Stuttgart we pursue this aim with a very theoretically oriented lecture, a seminar, and a year-long study project. The lecture aims at an understanding of the working principles of evolutionary algorithms. In the seminar the students shall generate a comprehensive view through own presentations and conducted discussions. In the project an evolutionary algorithm is applied to a real world problem by a group of 6 to 10 students.