A Survey of Automated Programming Hint Generation: The HINTS Framework

Automated tutoring systems offer the flexibility and scalability necessary to facilitate the provision of high-quality and universally accessible programming education. To realise the potential of these systems, recent work has proposed a diverse range of techniques for automatically generating feedback in the form of hints to assist students with programming exercises. This article integrates these apparently disparate approaches into a coherent whole. Specifically, it emphasises that all hint techniques can be understood as a series of simpler components with similar properties. Using this insight, it presents a simple framework for describing such techniques, the Hint Iteration by Narrow-down and Transformation Steps framework, and surveys recent work in the context of this framework. Findings from this survey include that (1) hint techniques share similar properties, which can be used to visualise them together, (2) the individual steps of hint techniques should be considered when designing and evaluating hint systems, (3) more work is required to develop and improve evaluation methods, and (4) interesting relationships, such as the link between automated hints and data-driven evaluation, should be further investigated. Ultimately, this article aims to facilitate the development, extension, and comparison of automated programming hint techniques to maximise their educational potential.

The Role of Self-Improving Tutoring Systems in Fostering Pre-Service Teacher Self-Regulated Learning

Computer-based learning environments serve as a valuable asset to help strengthen teacher preparation and preservice teacher self-regulated learning. One of the most important advantages is the opportunity to collect ambient data unobtrusively as observable indicators of cognitive, affective, metacognitive, and motivational processes that mediate learning and performance. Ambient data refers to teacher interactions with the user interface that include but are not limited to timestamped clickstream data, keystroke and navigation events, as well as document views. We review the claim that computers designed as metacognitive tools can leverage the data to serve not only teachers in attaining the aims of instruction, but also researchers in gaining insights into teacher professional development. In our presentation of this claim, we review the current state of research and development of a network-based tutoring system called nBrowser, designed to support teacher instructional planning and technology integration. Network-based tutors are self-improving systems that continually adjust instructional decision-making based on the collective behaviors of communities of learners. A large part of the artificial intelligence resides in semantic web mining, natural language processing, and network algorithms. We discuss the implications of our findings to advance research into preservice teacher self-regulated learning.

A Descriptive Survey on Face Emotion Recognition Techniques

Recognition of natural emotion from human faces has applications in Human–Computer Interaction, image and video retrieval, automated tutoring systems, smart environment as well as driver warning systems. It is also a significant indication of nonverbal communication among the individuals. The assignment of Face Emotion Recognition (FER) is predominantly complex for two reasons. The first reason is the nonexistence of a large database of training images, and the second one is about classifying the emotions, which can be complex based on the static input image. In addition, robust unbiased FER in real time remains the foremost challenge for various supervised learning-based techniques. This survey analyzes diverse techniques regarding the FER systems. It reviews a bunch of research papers and performs a significant analysis. Initially, the analysis depicts various techniques that are contributed in different research papers. In addition, this paper offers a comprehensive study regarding the chronological review and performance achievements in each contribution. The analytical review is also concerned about the measures for which the maximum performance was achieved in several contributions. Finally, the survey is extended with various research issues and gaps that can be useful for the researchers to promote improved future works on the FER models.

Effectiveness of a numeracy intelligent tutoring system in kindergarten: A conceptual replication

Intelligent Tutoring Systems are a genre of highly adaptive software providing individualized instruction. The current study was a conceptual replication of a previous randomized control trial that incorporated the intelligent tutoring system Native Numbers, a program designed for early numeracy instruction. As a conceptual replication, we kept the method of instruction, the demographics, the number of kindergarten classrooms (n = 3), and the same numeracy and intrinsic motivation screeners as the original study. We changed the time of year of instruction, changed the control group to a wait-control group, added a maintenance assessment for the first group of participants, and included a mathematical language assessment. Analysis of within- and between-group differences using repeated measures ANOVA indicated gains of numeracy were significant only after using Native Numbers (Partial Eta Square = 0.147). Results of intrinsic motivation and mathematical language were not significant. The effect size of numeracy achievement did not reach that of the original study (Partial Eta Square = 0.622). Here, we compared the two studies, discussed plausible reasons for differences in the magnitude of effect sizes, and provided suggestions for future research.

Diag-Skills: A Diagnosis System Using Belief Functions and Semantic Models in ITS

This work is related to the diagnosis process in intelligent tutoring systems (ITS). This process is usually a complex task that relies on imperfect data. Indeed, learning data may suffer from imprecision, uncertainty, and sometimes contradictions. In this paper, we propose Diag-Skills a diagnosis model that uses the theory of belief functions to capture these imperfections. The objective of this work is twofold: first, a dynamic diagnosis of the evaluated skills, then, the prediction of the state of the non-evaluated ones. We conducted two studies to evaluate the prediction precision of Diag-Skills. The evaluations showed good precision in predictions and almost perfect agreement with the instructor when the model failed to predict the effective state of the skill. Our main premise is that these results will serve as a support to the remediation and the feedbacks given to the learners by providing them a proper personalization.

Role of 5G and Artificial Intelligence for Research and Transformation of English Situational Teaching in Higher Studies

We live in a modern and technological society run by intelligent and human-like machines and systems. This is due to the advancements in the field of artificial intelligence. The machines are directly or indirectly used in different sectors like healthcare, automatic vehicles, and complex decision-making and at the same used in educational institutes. The usage of AI-based systems and the Internet has brought numerous educational innovations for both teachers and students. With the online learning platforms grounded on AI techniques, 5G has revolutionized the teaching and learning methods by smooth and faster access to educational content. Students of foreign languages, especially English learners, can now use chatbots and intelligent tutoring systems to learn and practice their speaking and listening skills offline and online. With Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), the English learning process can now be interactive and productive. The students can now improve their language skills by conversing with AI-based agents instead of native speakers to avoid any fear and anxiety. The intelligent platforms can understand the consuming power of the student and hence can create and give content according to their level to create an individualized learning environment. With the help of digital assistants, people can also find it very easy and productive to improve English proficiency. To accomplish the goal of English teaching very easily and ideally, the teachers should use AI-based techniques in the classrooms. With the help of intelligent assistants for the daily workload of a teacher, we will be able to concentrate fully on the language learning and skills of the students. The current study has presented a detailed overview of 5G and AI’s role in research and transformation of English situational teaching in higher studies. The search results are compiled and presented with different details of the area.

Artificial Intelligence and Its Role in Education

The objective of this study is to explore the role of artificial intelligence applications (AIA) in education. AI applications provide the solution in many ways to the exponential rise of modern-day challenges, which create difficulties in access to education and learning. They play a significant role in forming social robots (SR), smart learning (SL), and intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) to name a few. The review indicates that the education sector should also embrace the modern methods of teaching and the necessary technology. Looking into the flow, the education sector organizations need to adopt AI technologies as a necessity of the day and education. The study needs to be tested statistically for better understanding and to make the findings more generalized in the future.