Student Questions in a Classroom Evaluation of the ALPS Learning Environment
Albert T. Corbett, Angela Z. Wagner, Chih-Yu Chao, Sharon Lesgold, Scott Stevens, Harry Ulrich · 2005
Intelligent tutors for problem solving are successful environments, but have limited capabilities to provide help when learning opportunities arise. This paper reports a classroom pilot study of a new ALPS learning environment that is designed to engage students in more active learning by enabling students to ask questions at any time during problem solving. This ALPS environment integrates a Cognitive Tutor for math problem solving with Synthetic Interview technology which allows students to type natural language questions at any time during problem solving and receive pre-recorded videos of a human tutor replying. In this study we examine the rate of question-asking, the content of student questions, and student attitudes about ALPS. The student interactions with ALPS and attitudes toward the environment are promising and provide guidance for future development.