SmartTutor: an intelligent tutoring system in web-based adult education

Abstract

This paper describes the design of SmartTutor, an intelligent tutoring system implemented for distance learning in Hong Kong. Many projects and researches on online distance learning have been carried out in these few years. Most of them emphasized on the application of multimedia elements, but did not pay much attention on two crucial elements: personalization and intelligent tutoring, which are important for life-long/adult education. School of Professional and Continuing Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU SPACE) has developed SmartTutor to address these two issues. This project can be treated as a case study of combining Internet technology, education research, and artificial intelligence. The SmartTutor has been integrated into the SPACE Online Universal Learning platform (an online learning platform), which provides support to courses offered by HKU SPACE. The effectiveness of SmartTutor has been evaluated and the results are very positive. ? 2002 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.