A knowledge acquisition tool for intelligent computer tutors

Abstract

This research addresses the widening gap between research in intelligent tutoring systems and practical use of this technology by the educational community. In order to insure that intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) are effective, teachers must be involved in their design and evaluation. We have followed a user participatory design process to build a set of ITS knowledge acquisition tools tailored for usability by teachers. The system facilitates rapid prototyping and testing of curriculum and multiple tutoring strategies. Teachers use the system to create, modify, and test the system's domain content and tutoring strategy knowledge bases. The design includes novel methodologies for strategy representation and overlay student modeling, and incorporates considerations from instructional design theory. Tools have been designed to provide the user with visual models of the concepts and structures of the underlying framework. In close collaboration with a veteran high school teacher, we have used the interface to design a tutor for statics (part of a high school physics course). In this paper we describe the system (called KAFITS), report on our experience involving educators in ITS development, discuss issues of ITS knowledge representation and acquisition, and compare the system with related research in generic tutoring systems and knowledge acquisition.