Intelligent Computer-Based Learning Environments for Undergraduate Engineering Laboratories

本计画以两年的研究为基础，探讨如何为本科工程教育创造实验室学习环境。总主题是如何将基于计算机的智能辅导系统、交互式可视化系统和实验仪器相结合，创造面向视觉的学习环境，以改善本科工程实验教育。假设的教学收获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构建工具，使教师能够在显著减少的时间内在常用的计算机硬件上快速构建新的实验室课程。首先，将概念可视化和智能教学系统与实验室仪器相结合，扩大现有教学系统的能力。其次，课程构建工具，学生建模方法，以及通用PC/MAC工具与系统的无缝集成将被探讨。第三，具体的实验室将实施和测试，以证明所构建的工具的效用。第四，将实施电子传播教程。本项目的长期目标是整合新的软件方法、实验室仪器和智能辅导系统概念，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.