STyLE-OLM: Interactive Open Learner Modelling

Issue title: "Caring for the Learner" in honour of John Self

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Dimitrova, Vania

Affiliations: School of Computing, Leeds University, LS2 9JT, UK. vania@comp.leeds.ac.uk, http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/vania/

Abstract: There is a strong argument in Artificial Intelligence in Education which advocates that computer-based learning systems need to adapt to the needs of learners if they are to provide for effective personalised instruction (Self, 1999a). Diagnosing a learner's cognitive capacity is a crucial issue in building adaptive systems. We have explored an interactive open learner modelling (IOLM) approach which conceives diagnosis as an interactive process involving both a computer system and a learner that discuss and together construct the learner model. This paper outlines the architecture of an interactive open learner modelling system and illustrates the method in a terminological domain. We discuss an evaluative study of an IOLM demonstrator – a system called STyLE-OLM. The results from the study demonstrate potential benefits of the method for improving the quality of the learner model and providing a means for fostering reflective thinking. We argue that IOLM is a fruitful approach which may be employed in intelligent learning environments both for obtaining a better model of a learner's cognitive state and engaging learners in reflective activities.

Journal: International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 35-78, 2003