Cognitive principles in the design of computer tutors

Abstract : A set of principles are derived from the ACT theory of cognition for designing intelligent tutors: identify the goal structure of the problem space, provide instruction on the problem-solving context, provide immediate feedback in errors, minimize working memory loads, use production system models of the student, adjust the grain size of instruction according to learning principles, enable the student to approach the target skills by successive approximation, and promote use of general problem-solving rules over analogy. These principles have successfully guided our design of tutors for college students learning to program LISP and for high school students learning geometry.