Session Viii Teaching Using Computers: General Issues and Reviews

An exploration environment and tutoring strategies were developed for the first few hours of learning the programming language LISP. In this environment, the amount of exploratory and receptive learningcan be systematically manipulated. In an experimental studywith three different learning conditions, learning in a basic exploration environment (without an automated tutor) was compared to learning with an automated tutor that provided help rather selectively, and with an automated tutor that provided help whenever possible. The results showed that the selective tutor condition was most effective: The students in this condition took the least time in acquiring knowledge and solving the criterion test tasks, while solving equal numbers ofthe tasks correctly.