The use of multiple instantiations in interactive learning environments

The paper describes the benefits of providing an Interactive Learning Environment with an interface which allows explicit planning and instantiation. In addition to providing information about the student's beliefs to the student model, it facilitates the student's learning and metacognition by proving a supportive problem solving environment. Features from a system for teaching logic proofs have been extended and generalised by developing a system for supporting problem solving in the domain of accounting and finance. Some features of instantiators, their use in problem solving and the issues and trade-offs they raise in interface design are described.