AutoTutor: A simulation of a human tutor

A study in responsiveness in spoken dialog

“…In focusing on acknowledgement choice, our work is similar to that of Graesser et al (1999, see also (Rajan et al, 2001), who modeled the roughly analogous English items in varying intonations. In this system choice among acknowledgements is determined by the correctness of the student's action, specifically the "the quality of the set of assertions within a conversational turn".…”

“…Of course, this only works if the tutor is helpful, sympathetic, encouraging, and fun: otherwise it can turn into a dull chore. Thus it seems that tutoring is valuable not just due to the efficient conveying of facts, but that "there is something about interactive discourse [itself] that is responsible for learning gains" (Graesser et al, 1999).…”

Automated Tutoring Environment for Command (ATEC): Using an Intelligent Tutor to Model Expert Mentor Interactions

“…Indeed, as (Graesser, et al, 1999) notes, this is typical for intelligent tutoring approaches. However, the Phase I research did identify a clear requirement for an interface between ATEC and the trainee that was not only natural language based, but that also engaged the trainee in relatively complex dialog which facilitated the learning and introspection process on the part of the trainee.…”

“…A situational approach is thus needed. Among the most advanced examples of a situation-based approach to natural language dialog management in a tutoring context is the AutoTutor system, developed by Graesser and colleagues at the University of Memphis (Graesser et al, 1999;Person et al, [in preparation]). …”

“…Models of tutoring dialog that are used in AutoTutor were developed from empirical analyses of human tutors in the computer literacy curriculum that the system addresses (Graesser et al, 1999). The nature of the tutoring process in TLAC is generally similar, but also poses some key differences.…”