Affiliations: Department of Psychology, University of Tampa, Tampa,
FL 33606, USA. E-mail: sblessing@ut.edu | Human Computer Interaction and Department of
Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
E-mail: gilbert@iastate.edu | Clearsighted, Inc., Ames, IA 50010, USA.
E-mail: s@ourada.org | Carnegie Learning, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
E-mail: sritter@carnegielearning.com
Abstract: Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) that employ a model-tracing
methodology have consistently shown their effectiveness. However, what
evidently makes these tutors effective, the cognitive model embedded within
them, has traditionally been difficult to create, requiring great expertise and
time, both of which come at a cost. Furthermore, an interface has to be
constructed that communicates with the cognitive model. Together these
constitute a high bar that needs to be crossed in order to create such a tutor.
We outline a system that lowers this bar on both accounts and that has been
used to produce commercial-quality tutors. First, we discuss and evaluate a
tool that allows authors who are not cognitive scientists or programmers to
create a cognitive model. Second, we detail a way for this cognitive model to
communicate with third-party interfaces.
