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

匹兹堡大学经济系是 开设了一个计算机实验室， 人工智能，被称为智能辅导系统 (ITS)探索世界（DW），以加强本科生 经济分析入门培训。 ITS/DW方法 鼓励学生独立思考，帮助学生发展 比以前的教学应用程序更清晰的分析技能 但它也有更苛刻的硬件要求 这限制了部门可以使用的工作站数量， 负担得起。 该奖项提供资金，以改善实验室的装备， 它与一个更优化的数量适当配置 工作站。 新实验室将由30个（取代15个）工作站组成， 经济学PC探索世界计划合作开发， 由项目主任和大学的学习研究和 发展中心。 实验室和软件系统将由 参加微观经济学入门课程的学生， 每年大约有3,000名本科生。 皮特ITS/DW项目一直是众多学术研究的主题。 文章，吸引兴趣，因为鼓励评价 结果和基本方法对其他学校的可移植性 PC设施。 获奖者将与非- 联邦消息来源。

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.