Expert Systems in Distance Education

Abstract

Computers have been used in educational environments to carry out applications that need expertise, such as compiling, storing, presentation, and evaluation of information. In some teaching environments that need expert knowledge, capturing and imitating the knowledge of the expert in an artificial environment and utilizing computer systems that have the ability to communicate with people using natural language might reduce the need for the expert and provide fast results. Expert systems are a study area of artificial intelligence and can be defined as computer systems that can approach a problem for which an answer is being sought like an expert and present solution recommendations. In this chapter, the definition of expert systems and their characteristics, information about the expert systems in teaching environments, and especially their utilization in distance education are given.