User Modeling and Adaptive Navigation Support in WWW-Based Tutoring Systems

Most learning systems and electronic textbooks accessible via the WWW up to now lack the capabilities of individualized help and adapted learning support that are the emergent features of on-site intelligent tutoring systems. This paper discusses the problems of developing interactive and adaptive learning systems on the WWW. We introduce ELM-ART II, an intelligent interactive textbook to support learning programming in LISP. ELM-ART II demonstrates how interactivity and adaptivity can be implemented in WWW-based tutoring systems. The knowledge-based component of the system uses a combination of an overlay model and an episodic user model. It also supports adaptive navigation as individualized diagnosis and help on problem solving tasks. Adaptive navigation support is achieved by annotating links. Additionally, the system selects the next best step in the curriculum on demand. Results of an empirical study show different effects of these techniques on different types of users during the first lessons of the programming course.