Abstract
Educational literature indicates that computers have not yet completely fulfilled the promise for systematic individualization of instruction. We offer here a partial explanation for this, based on observations of elementary-school children doing computer-managed drill and practice in arithmetic in four different CAI systems. A general model for adaptation of instruction to the learner, using computerized management of practice, is presented. Our data show that the key elements of this process — the software-based students' evaluations and the subsequent decisions — are sometimes inaccurate or even totally wrong and result in presentation of inappropriate material or feedback to the learner. We suggest the incorporation of human teachers into the evaluation and decision-making process.
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This paper was presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Boston, April, 1990.
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Hativa, N., Lesgold, A. The computer as a tutor — can it adapt to the individual learner?. Instr Sci 20, 49–78 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00119686
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00119686