Intelligent Tutoring Systems for Scientific Inquiry Skills.

Abstract

We describe the initial prototypes of several Intelligent tutoring systems\ndesigned to build students' scientific Inquiry skills. These Inquiry skills are\ntaught In the context of acquiring knowledge of principles from a mlcroworld\nthat models a specific domain. We have Implemented microworlds for\nmicroeconomics, electricity, and light refraction. All of the systems are highly\ninteractive; students can pose questions, conduct experiments by manipulating\ndomain specific factors, and record results. Using protocol studies of expert\nand non-expert learners using these microworlds we identify important inquiry\nstrategies. W e have represented these strategies formally, allowing the\nmlcroworld to detect effective and ineffective Inquiry strategies. W e conclude\nwith a description of a partially implemented 'inquiry coach*. This coach will\nbe incorporated into the microworlds and teach the Inquiry strategies in the\ncontext of the specific mlcroworld domain knowledge.