Computer-Based Learning Environment and Automatic Diagnosis System for Superposition of Motion

Abstract

In the context of a computer-based learning environment on superposition of motion, an automatic diagnosis system on knowledge acquisition and on misconceptions was developed. The learning environment is designed according to the principle of inductive learning. It consists of a sequence of sixty similar tasks increasing in task demand and tutorial measures, involving simulations of the physical phenomenon. The diagnosis system is enabled to generate automatically both the correct solution and incorrect solutions which are based on the learner’s possible misconceptions. It compares these solutions with the learner’s actual solution and thus infers on his or her respective conceptual knowledge. The diagnosis system is rule-based and implemented as a classifier system. It uses both a strengthening algorithm and a discrimination algorithm. Learning environment and diagnosis system are implemented in LOOPS on a Xerox 1108 workstation.