FlexiTrainer: A Visual Authoring Framework for Case-Based Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Abstract

The need for rapid and cost-effective development Intelligent Tutoring Systems with flexible pedagogical approaches has led to a demand for authoring tools. The authoring systems developed to date provide a range of options and flexibility, such as authoring simulations, or authoring tutoring strategies. This paper describes FlexiTrainer, an authoring framework that enables the rapid creation of pedagogically rich and performance-oriented learning environments with custom content and tutoring strategies. FlexiTrainer provides tools for specifying the domain knowledge and derives its power from a visual behavior editor for specifying the dynamic behavior of tutoring agents that interact to deliver instruction. The FlexiTrainer runtime engine is an agent based system where different instructional agents carry out teaching related actions to achieve instructional goals. FlexiTrainer has been used to develop an ITS for training helicopter pilots in flying skills.

An authoring system for developing Intelligent Tutoring System

“…This constraint restricts the use of this ITS authoring tool in various domains such as language education, social sciences Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE Students' Technology Symposium 3-4 April 2010, IIT Kharagpur etc. In addition to these systems, even in FlexiTrainer [7] or VersaTutor [8] there were no features which would enable the reuse of learning materials. Thus, authoring with these tools would require authoring of learning materials every time a course is designed.…”

“…Some of the recently built authoring tools include • Authoring tool by Sanket D. Choksey [6] • FlexiTrainer [7] • VersaTutor [8] • REDEEM [9] • Web-based authoring tool [10] • Demonstr8 [11] • XAIDA [12] There are some other specialized ITS authoring system. Like, ITS authoring system for disabled learners [13] or ITS authoring system for Manufacturing Engineering education [14] etc.…”

Shikshak: An Intelligent Tutoring System Authoring tool for rural education

“…Some of the systems used novel methods like dialogue management [19], using sensors to track the emotion of the learner [20]. Some other notable ITSs are FlexiTrainer [21], VersaTutor [22], Ontology based ITS by Suraweera [23] etc.…”