Intelligent Computer-Based Learning Environments for Undergraduate Engineering Laboratories

这个项目建立在两年的研究基础上，致力于为本科工科教育创造实验室学习环境。总的主题是如何通过创造以视觉为导向的学习环境，将基于计算机的智能教学系统、交互式可视化系统和实验室仪器相结合，来改善本科工程实验教学。假设的教学收益是学生应该从与实验室仪器提供的相同信息直接相关的理论概念的交互式计算机可视化中获得更好的理解。该项目的主要实际好处是创建了生成器工具，使教师能够在极大地减少时间的情况下，在常用的计算机硬件上快速构建新的实验室课程。首先，通过将概念可视化和智能教学系统与实验室仪器相结合，将扩展现有教学系统的能力。其次，将探索课程建设工具、学生建模方法以及将常用PC/MAC工具无缝集成到系统中。第三，将实施和测试特定的实验室，以证明所建工具的实用性。第四，将实施教程的电子传播。这项拟议项目的长期目标是整合新的软件方法、实验室仪器和智能教学系统概念，为本科工程实验室创造新的学习环境。

This project builds on two years of investigation concerned with creation of laboratory learning environments for undergraduate engineering education. The general theme is how to improve undergraduate engineering laboratory education by creating visually-oriented learning environments that combine computer-based intelligent tutoring systems, interactive visualization systems and laboratory instrumentation. The hypothesized pedagogical gain is the enhanced understanding that students should receive from interactive computer visualization of theoretical concepts that are directly linked to the same information provided by laboratory instrumentation. The principal practical benefit of the project is the creation of builder tools that permit instructors to rapidly construct new laboratory curricula in significantly reduced time on commonly available computer hardware. First, the capabilities of the current tutoring systems will be expanded by combining concept visualization and intelligent tutorial systems with laboratory instrumentation. Second, curriculum building tools, student modeling methodologies, and seamless integration of common PC/MAC tools into the systems will be explored. Third, specific laboratories will be implemented and tested to demonstrate the utility of the tools constructed. Fourth, electronic dissemination of the tutorials will be implemented. The long-term objective of this proposed project is to integrate new software methods, laboratory instrumentation, and intelligent tutoring system concepts to create new learning environments for undergraduate engineering laboratories.