DOMINIE: A DOMAIN INDEPENDENT INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR COMPUTER-BASED PROCEDURAL SKILLS (ESPRIT Project 1613)

Abstract

There are many logistical and tutorial reasons for developing Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs). The increasing presence of inherently complex, evolving systems requires cost-effective methods of producing tutorial material. Furthermore, it is generally accepted that training opportunity problems can be resolved by flexible tutorial mechanisms and that artifical intelligence technology can enable knowledge representation for complex procedures. Other advantages include the ability to explicity represent the expertise of the human teacher and achieving individualised, non-threatening tuition.In response to Alcatel's major training need for complex computer-based procedures, the Engineering Support Centre developed a micro based prototype ITS shell. Issues considered during ITS development included: selecting an appropriate formal requirements specification technique which ensures precision, communicability, implementability and assistance with reasoning for design; and simulation of the target system to enable the student to gain on-line experience. The formal specification technique currently being evaluated is Modal Action Logic, and the ITS shell employs facsimile simulation without the necessity of the presence of the target software package during tuition.Within the ESPRIT project the prototype ITS has been used as a test-bed for the development of a pre-product, field tested domain independent instructional environment (Dominie). Field trials have been performed in the application areas of office automation package tailoring (in Italian) and telephone exchange maintenance (in English). The results have assisted re-specifying the prototype, primarily in terms of its control stucture, knowledge representation method, tutorial and assessment strategies and student modelling technique.Future work within year one of the ESPRIT project will involve the first implementation of Dominie and the specification and implementation of a trainer interface. Year two will include further field trials and will involve a greater number of application areas. These trials will enable evaluating Dominie's tutorial effectiveness and organisational impact prior to refining the system.