Traditional Computer Aided Learning Systems
The predecessors of Intelligent Tutoring Systems were known variously as Computer Aided Instruction or Computer Aided Learning systems. These traditional systems were developed to provide users with instruction in a particular area after which they were tested. Answers to questions, usually multiple choice, were used to direct the course of study. The structure of such a system can be seen in figure 1.01.
Users are presented with information after which a series of question are asked. If the user answers correctly the next phase of instruction is entered. There may be a summary set of questions at the end of the instruction to gauge how well the student has performed.
If a user answers the questions incorrectly the instructional material is presented again, perhaps in a slightly different format. If, after the material has been repeated, the student again answers incorrectly then remedial instruction may be presented.
Figure 1.01 : Routing within a Computer Aided Instruction System
This style of tutoring system is often referred to as an ad-hoc frame oriented system. The branching structure within the systems can be a good deal more complex than that depicted in figure 1.01.
Such systems can appear to imitate intelligence by being able to adapt to student misconceptions. However, this appearance is a result of the system designer anticipating all possible errors that the student can make. These are built into the system at design time and encoded within the branching structure. Should the designer of the system not have anticipated an incorrect interpretation of the instructional material that the student may have, the system will never be able to provide an explanation that will help resolve the misunderstanding. These systems are incapable of dynamically generating a response to a particular situation as a human tutor would be able to do.
Authored by Serengul Smith
E-mail to:
serengul1@mdx.ac.uk
School of Computing Science Middlesex University
Revised: September 1998