ElectronixTutor: An Adaptive Learning Platform with Multiple Resources

The development of a complex, adaptive learning platform presents many challenges, particularly in difficult topics like electrical engineering that require deep understanding of technical concepts and their interrelationships. One approach to handling this challenge is to build a system that integrates an ensemble of adaptive intelligent learning environments as well as static learning resources (technical manuals, diagrams, simulations) so that the right resource is delivered to the right person at the right time. We instantiated this approach in a project funded by the Office of Naval Research with technology and learning standards guided by the Army Research Laboratory and Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative. The ElectronixTutor system was developed in an open-source learning platform on the web, instantiated on Moodle, with several intelligent tutoring systems (AutoTutor, Dragoon, LearnForm, ASSISTments, and BEETLE-II) that have demonstrated significant learning gains across various domains and depths of instruction. This paper focuses on three primary achievements, situated within the general development of the system as a whole. First, we describe the creation of a quantitative interlingua (learning standard) that is based on knowledge components in order to translate progress across learning resources into a comprehensive learner model. Second, we specify the procedures by which our recommender system evaluates and suggests items appropriate to the topic, depth, modality, and knowledge components for individual learners. We also describe other components of the system, including the user interface, in-person course integration, instruction calendars, and the learning record store. Third, we report an initial study that collects data from college students who learn about electronic circuits with the system. While the full results of this study are not yet final, the methodology and implementation into classroom settings demonstrates capacity for relatively easy adoption and expansion of classroom capabilities by offering coordination of multiple types of intelligent tutoring practice capabilities in a comprehensive learning experience.