Using Intelligent Tutoring Technologies to Enhance Online Learning Environments

Online and distance learning environments have changed dramatically over the last 20 years and are now sophisticated interactive learning environments. However, much more improvement is possible, and some of that improvement might come from mining some of the technologies developed as part of intelligent tutoring systems. Intelligent tutoring systems combine the best of human tutoring by capturing one on one tutoring interactions between a teacher and student on all topics for a learning module and converting them to a computerized version. The computerized version is designed to gauge the understanding of the student and adapt the instruction, modeling, hints, interactions, and activities to particular students. The systems are usually designed to assess the student’s learning continuously and scaffold the learning of the student. Ideally, these interactions will mimic human tutoring that has been shown to significantly improve learning beyond large group instruction.