Reasoning about Teaching and Learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has been extended for use in tutoring systems to dynamically customize material for individual students. These techniques model and reason about the student, the domain and teaching strategies, and communicate with the student in real time. Evaluation results show increased learning, reduced costs, and improved grades. We will demonstrate intelligent and distributed technology that makes education available anytime and anyplace. At the grade school level, a mathematics tutor positively influences students’ confidence and image of their mathematics ability. Machine learning was used to model student performance and to derive a teaching policy to meet a desired educational goal. At the college level, an inquiry tutor moves students towards more active and problem-based learning. We will also discuss other tutors that introduce new pedagogy and address inequities in the classroom.