Abstract: The outcome of smart education should be oriented towards deep learning. Based on the theoretical analysis of deep learning and smart education, this paper presents the paths to enhance college students' deep learning ability under the background of smart education. Taking the Operations Research course as an example, in accordance with the student-centered educational concept and with the aim of cultivating deep learning ability, a comprehensive design is made for the course teaching objectives, the teaching activities of the shortest path problem, and the formative assessment and evaluation, from the four dimensions of quality, knowledge, skills and abilities, in order to provide a reference for college teachers to carry out deep learning in smart education and improve the quality of classroom teaching.