Optimally Sizing a Computing Lab for Introductory Under- graduate Economics Courses

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The Department of Economics at the University of Pittsburgh is opening a computing lab which will utilize innovative techniques of artificial intelligence, known as Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) of Discovery Worlds (DW), to strengthen undergraduate training in introductory economic analysis. The ITS/DW approach stimulates more independent thinking and helps students to develop sharper analytical skills than previous instructional applications of computers, but it also has more demanding hardware requirements which limit the number of workstations which the Department can afford. This award provides funds to improve the lab by outfitting it with a more optimal number of appropriately configured workstations. The new lab will consist of 30 (in place of 15) workstations using an Economics PC Discovery World program developed collaboratively by the Project Director and the University's Learning Research and Development Center. The lab and software system will be used by students in introductory microeconomics courses with enrollments of approximately 3,000 undergraduates per calendar year. The Pitt ITS/DW project has been the subject of numerous scholarly articles, attracting interest because of encouraging evaluative results and the portability of the basic approach to other schools with PC facilities. The grantee will match this award with non- Federal sources.