Special Session: Intelligent Tutoring and Help Systems

In recent years, considerable effort has been focused on the development of computational models of expert human performance. One class of expertise that has been studied is that of human tutors. The resultant intelligent tutoring systems are intended to provide the user with the “instructional advantage that a sophisticated human tutor can provide,” (Anderson, Boyle and Reiser, 1985). This line of research is of interest to the human factors community for two reasons: 1. Intelligent tutoring systems offer potential tools for use in training and educational programs, a long-standing area of interest to human factors researchers and practitioners; 2. There are many human factors and human performance issues that should be addressed in the design of such tutoring systems. The speakers in this special session will provide an overview of research issues in the design of intelligent tutoring systems. Relevant conceptual issues and approaches will be highlighted in the context of a variety of application areas. Included will be a discussion of the “use of intelligent system monitors that allow users to integrate the time and effort spent on learning with actual use of a system”, (Carroll and McKendree, 1987).