Page 83 - Educational Technology A Primer for the 21st Century

72 4 Systems Perspective of Educational Technology
4.3.2.2 Intelligent Computer-Assisted Instruction
In the traditional CAI, the computer is only used as the disseminator of knowledge,
but it does not understand the knowledge that it teaches; moreover, it does not
understand the students beyond a simple parsing of text-based responses. With the
development and maturation of artificial intelligence, AI technology is used in more
sophisticated CAI system so that the CAI system can understand what to teach, how
to teach, and how a student is progressing, which leads to the emergence of the
intelligent computer-assisted instruction (ICAI). ICAI is a kind of application mode
of CAI, which is based on artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and thinking
sciences. ICAI constructs a simple cognitive model of learners using established
characteristics and processes of human thinking. Through an ICAI system, students
can acquire knowledge through individualized adaptive learning.
ICAI changes the traditional teaching mode. The students get feedback infor-
mation in real time through human–computer interaction, adjusting the learning
pace actively. The whole teaching process is shifted from teacher-centered to
student-centered. In 1970, the first influential ICAI system was the scholar system
that taught South American geography, creating a precedent for ICAI research.
An ICAI system has a computer program that uses artificial intelligence tech-
niques (e.g., a production model, backward chaining, and other means) for repre-
senting knowledge and performing an interaction with a student to stimulate and
control his learning in a given field. In an intelligent instructional system, the
student is actively engaged with the educational environment and his interests and
misunderstandings drive the tutorial dialogue (Bottino & Molfino, 1985).
It must be pointed out, however, that from an educational point of view, ICAI
systems are not only expert systems, but they must also embody suitable models
both for the student’s behavior and for the teaching methodology (Bottino &
Molfino, 1985).

Extended Reading
One of the earliest ICAI systems was SCHOLAR, which is a system designed
to teach South American geography. The program uses a network of faces and
concepts as well as an extensive data base. The original system allowed the
student to conduct a “mixed initiative” dialogue. Allowing SCHOLAR to ask
the student questions and then, with a limited natural language interface.
Permitting the student to ask questions of the system. This kind of interaction
highlights SCHOLAR’s most advanced qualities: the tutoring component and
a limited communication module. These two features enable the student to
interact with SCHOLAR.
See Woodward, J. P., & Carnine, D. W. (1988). Antecedent knowledge
and intelligent computer assisted instruction. Journal of Learning Disabilities,
21(3), 131.