Facilitating the Development and Use of Interactive Learning Environments

Intelligent tutoring technology is on the verge of a breakthrough into the mainstream of training and education. Over the past 25 years, researchers have learned not only what it takes to develop an effective intelligent tutoring system (ITS), but also what it takes to deploy and use one--the true barometer of a technology's success. This volume brings together a cross-section of ITS researchers from academia, industry, and the government to talk about their experiences in ITS development and technology transfer, both successful and unsuccessful. Section 1 is devoted to detailed descriptions of tools and methods ITS developers can employ during development to facilitate technology adoption. It includes discussions of the paradigmatic change in learning and instructional design that ITS fosters, techniques for gathering design information for ITS domains where empirical or knowledge-based methods are inappropriate, and the conduct of cost-benefits analyses to facilitate ITS funding decisions. Sections 2 and 3 offer numerous case studies of ITS deployment from both industry and the government. All of these case studies--regardless of outcome--provide valuable insights into the dos and don'ts of ITS technology transfer. This volume will be an invaluable resource for all researchers and developers of ITS, as well as for managers and personnel in education and training organizations who must adopt and use ITS technology, and information systems and computing support organization professionals who must support it if it is to succeed.

Contents: Preface. Part I: Tools of the Trade. W.J. Clancey, Developing Learning Technology in Practice. A.S. Wolff, C.P. Bloom, A. Shahidi, K. Shahidi, R.E. Rehder, Using Quasi-Experimentation to Gather Design Information for Intelligent Tutoring Systems. A.S. Wolff, Cost-Benefits Analysis for Computer-Based Tutoring Systems. Part II: Case Studies From Industry. C.P. Bloom, A.S. Wolff, B. Bell, Introducing Advanced Technology Applications Into Corporate Environments. A. McClard, An Observational Study of ITS Knowledge-Base Development by Non Technical Subject-Matter Experts. R. Farrell, L.S. Lefkowitz, Supporting Development of Online Task Guidance for Software System Users: Lessons From the WITS Project. P.T. Bullemer, C.P. Bloom, Transferring Learning Systems Technology to Corporate Training Organizations: An Examination of Acceptance Issues. R. Radlinski, M.E. Atwood, Augmenting Intelligent Tutoring Systems With Intelligent Tutors. Part III: Case Studies From Government. R.B. Loftin, "A Prophet Without Honor..." Case Histories of ITS Technology at NASA/Johnson Space Center. S. Katz, A. Lesgold, E. Hughes, D. Peters, G. Eggan, M. Gordin, L. Greenberg, Sherlock 2: An Intelligent Tutoring System Built on the LRDC Tutor Framework. J.E. Norton, J.A. Jones, W.B. Johnson, B.J. Wiederholt, Are Intelligent Tutoring Systems Ready for the Commercial Market?

CharlesP Bloom, R. Bowen Loftin