Effects of Inspecting Learner Models on Learners' Abilities
Rafael Morales, Helen G. Pain, Tom Conlon, Sistemas Informáticos · 2001
The educational benefits of involving learners as active players in the learner modelling process have been an important motivation for research on this form of learner modelling, henceforth referred to as participative learner modelling. Benefits such as the promotion of learners' reflection on and awareness of their own knowl- edge have in most cases been asserted on the grounds of system design and supported only by anecdotal evidence. We explore the issue by testing for changes in learners' abilities and behaviour as a consequence of allowing them to inspect and modify their learner models. The domain of application centres on the sensorimotor skill of con- trolling a pole on a cart, which represents a novel type of domain for participative learner modelling. The outcome of this research suggests that participative learner modelling may increase the abilities of learners to report accurately their problem- solving knowledge—the sort of behavioural changes expected from increased learn- ers' awareness and reflection.