An Intelligent SQL Tutor on the Web

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mitrovic, Antonija

Affiliations: Intelligent Computer Tutoring Group, Computer Science Department, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. tanja@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz; http://www.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/~tanja

Abstract: The paper presents SQLT-Web, a Web-enabled intelligent tutoring system for the SQL database language. SQLT-Web is a Web-enabled version of an earlier, standalone ITS. In this paper we describe how the components of the standalone system were reused to develop the Web-enabled system. The system observes students' actions and adapts to their knowledge and learning abilities. We describe the system's architecture in comparison to the architectures of other existing Web-enabled tutors. All tutoring functions are performed on the server side, and we explain how SQLT-Web deals with multiple students. The system has been open to outside users since March 2000. SQLT-Web has been evaluated in the context of genuine teaching activities. We present the results of three evaluation studies with the University of Canterbury students taking database courses, which show that SQLT-Web is an effective system. The students have found the system a valuable asset to their learning.

Keywords: Web-based ITS, architectures for adaptive and intelligent Web-based educational systems, intelligent problem solving support via the Web, student modelling and student model servers in the Web context, empirical studies of Web-based adaptive and intelligent educational systems

Journal: International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, vol. 13, no. 2-4, pp. 173-197, 2003