"Cognitive Tutors and the Role of Meta-Cognition in Learning"

3/27/2003: 10:30am - 12:00pm
11th Floor Large Conference Room

Abstract: Cognitive Tutors are computer-based intelligent tutors that are based on rigorous Cognitive Psychology theory and methods. Cognitive Tutors are a prime example of impact of Cognitive Science on society. They have led to demonstrated improvements in student learning and are now in regular use in mathematics classrooms in over 1000 schools across the country. They have also been an important basic research vehicle, testing and pushing cognitive theory by providing a way to automate instructional experiments and collect fine-grained extended data on learner performance and change. Instructional experiments have often focused on developing fast and accurate domain experts by supporting student learning of tacit procedural knowledge. Our recent experiments have focused on developing flexible and adaptive "intelligent novices" by supporting learning of interpretable declarative knowledge and more general interpretive procedures. In other words, we are exploring whether and how more self-reflective meta-cognition can be fostered in a way that improves adaptive transfer and longer-term retention. I will present two sets of experiments. One explores the effects of supporting self-explanation in a Cognitive Tutor for geometry problem solving. Another explores the effects of supporting error detection and self-correction in a Cognitive Tutor for Excel programming.

About Ken Koedinger: My background includes a BS in Mathematics, a MS in Computer Science, a PhD in Cognitive Psychology, and experience teaching in an urban high school. This multi-disciplinary preparation has been critical to my research goal of creating educational technologies that dramatically increase student achievement. Toward this goal, I create "cognitive models", computer simulations of student thinking and learning, that are used to guide the design of educational materials, practices and technologies. These cognitive models provide the basis for an approach to educational technology called "Cognitive Tutors" in which we create rich problem solving environments for students to work in and provide just-in-time learning assistance much like a good human tutor does. I have developed Cognitive Tutors for mathematics and science and have successfully evaluated them in the laboratory and the classroom. I currently codirect the Pittsburgh Advanced Cognitive Tutor Center and am managing teams of cognitive scientists, programmers, and teachers to create integrated learning solutions that include text materials, teacher training and Cognitive Tutors. I am a co-founder of Carnegie Learning Inc., a company marketing these technology-enhanced learning solutions to schools and colleges across the country.

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