Just-in-Time, Online, Intelligent Tutoring for Automated System Integration: Developing a Problem-Solving Environment that Enhances Student Learning

该项目旨在通过创建基于技术的工具来帮助本科生和新工程师学习集成自动化系统，从而服务于国家利益。自动化系统集成涉及设计和构建自动化制造、农业、能源和交通等领域的工业流程的系统。例如，要构建机器人焊接系统，工程师需要集成机器人、传送带、夹具、传感器和用于装卸零件的执行器等组件。学习集成组件和设备以形成自动化系统可能需要数年时间。为了在日益自动化的世界中保持国家的经济竞争力，美国需要更多具有系统集成技能的工程师和技术人员。这个项目将使学生和新的工程师能够在他们需要的时候获得教学支持，从而潜在地缩短发展系统集成专业知识所需的时间，并更好地为学生在工业自动化相关职业中的成功做好准备。该项目将创建和评估一个集成的、自适应的和基于Web的问题解决环境(I-PSE)，以缓解学习自动化系统集成的挑战，增强学生的学习体验，并产生知识来弥合问题解决环境和智能教学系统设计和实施方面的差距。I-PSE将集成三个模块：(1)智能教学系统，(2)虚拟/远程实验室，(3)交互模拟。这些模块将相互连接并设计为相互支持，以增加用户交互和参与度。在I-PSE开发和测试期间，将收集数据以进行形成性和总结性评估。对这些数据的分析还将产生关于以下方面的新知识：学习者如何获得系统集成问题解决技能；应在何时以及在多大程度上提供及时的教学支持，以使学习能够发生；以及如何适应在使用工具和执行系统集成任务(如接口)时的个体差异。I-PSE将在德克萨斯农工大学自动化、机器人和机电一体化相关的本科课程中实施和评估，并将在招生人数较多的高校实施和评估，这些院校的学生来自STEM中尚未得到公平代表的群体。因此，I-PSE有可能直接影响至少500名学生的学习。快速设计或重新配置自动化系统以适应变化的能力，对于保持我们国家的经济竞争力和安全至关重要。在某种程度上，这一努力可以提高工程师的数量和质量，为那些可能需要更多时间掌握这种复杂材料的人打开大门，并提高人们对自动化制造系统重要性的认识，这个项目可以造福我们整个社会。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过参与的学生学习路径，该计划支持有前景的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by creating technology-based tools that help undergraduate students and new engineers learn to integrate automated systems. Automated system integration involves designing and building systems to automate industrial processes in areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and transportation. For example, to build a robotic welding system, engineers need to integrate components such as a robot, conveyor, fixture, sensors, and actuators for loading and unloading parts. Learning to integrate components and devices to form an automated system can take many years. To maintain the nation’s economic competitiveness in an increasingly automated world, the U.S. needs many more engineers and technicians with system integration skills. This project will make it possible for students and new engineers to access instructional support as they need it, thus potentially shortening the time needed to develop system integration expertise and better preparing students for success in industrial automation-related careers.The project will create and evaluate an integrated, adaptive, and web-based problem-solving environment (I-PSE) to alleviate challenges in learning about automated system integration, enhance students’ learning experience, and generate knowledge to bridge the gaps in problem-solving environment and intelligent tutoring system design and implementation. The I-PSE will integrate three modules: (1) an intelligent tutoring system, (2) virtual/remote labs, and (3) interactive simulations. These modules will be inter-connected and designed to support one another to increase user interaction and engagement. During I-PSE development and testing, data will be collected for formative and summative evaluation. Analysis of these data will also generate new knowledge about: how learners acquire system integration problem solving skills; when and how much just-in-time instructional support should be provided to enable learning to occur; and how to accommodate individual differences in using tools and performing system integration tasks such as interfacing. I-PSE will be implemented and evaluated in automation, robotics, and mechatronics-related undergraduate courses at Texas A&M University and at colleges and universities with a high enrollment of students from groups that are not yet equitably represented in STEM. As a result, the I-PSE has the potential to directly impact the learning of at least 500 students. The ability to rapidly design or reconfigure automated systems to accommodate change is critical to maintaining our national economic competitiveness and security. To the extent that this effort can improve the quantity and quality of engineers, open doors for those who might need more time to master such complex material, and increase awareness of the importance of automated manufacturing systems, this project can benefit our entire society. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.