"Distributed Interactive Learning Environments"

3/19/2001: [time not recorded]
[location not recorded]

Abstract: We describe research directed at building 1) responsive teaching systems with enhanced intelligence and 2) distributed agents and systems in educational marketplaces. Artificial Intelligence is used to diagnose student learning and provide customized responses. We describe a reinforcement learning architecture that learns to model student performance and then derives a teaching policy to meet a desired educational goal. Spoken natural language is integrated with existing tutors. In addition, rich 3D animation and interactive multimedia are used to support student reasoning, design, and visualization. Psychological studies based on eye-tracking experiments are used to inform spatial reasoning tutors. Distributed systems include web-based agents that dynamically construct models of available resources, organize massive educational networks and apply resources in support of educational goals. We also describe a web-based homework system that uses interactive discovery environments to provide guided inquiry, along with multimedia simulations and intelligent tutor. The electronic homework system has resulted in improved student grades and reduced faculty costs, sometimes adding a full letter grade to student scores. This system is used by more than 5,000 students at over 20 universities and is being marketed to 100,000 students. We will discuss economies of scale that reduce development costs. Studies of existing systems help quantifying technology's impact on learning and inform us how to best transition laboratory projects to educational practice.

About Beverly Park Woolf: Dr. Beverly Park Woolf is an Associate Research Professor and Director of both the Center for Knowledge Communication and the Center for Computer-based Instructional Technology at the University of Massachusetts. She has a Ph.D. in Computer Science, an Ed.D. in Education and more than 15 years experience in research on educational computer science, production of intelligent tutoring systems and development of multimedia systems. Dr. Woolf is a Fellow of the American Association of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), an editor for IEEE Computer and an assistant editor for Interactive Learning Environments. She has published over 100 articles and delivered keynote addresses, panels and tutorials in more than 15 countries.

Last updated: Mon Jun 19 17:44:06 2006