On Knowledge Representation in an Intelligent Tutoring System

Abstract

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) are a new generation of computer systems for support and improvement of learning and teaching. The usual definition of an ITS characterizes it as a system based on some kind of knowledge which includes domain, teachers' and students' knowledge. In the paper we elaborate on the representation of knowledge in an intelligent authoring shell – which is an ITS generator system – Tutor-Expert System. Within TEx-Sys knowledge is represented through semantic networks with frames and production rules. Nodes are used for representation of domain knowledge objects, while links show relations among them. Besides, TEx-Sys supports properties and frames, as well as property inheritance and frames containing a conclusion-making mechanism.