Towards an Intelligent Environment for Learning Introductory Programming
The paper discusses some problems of building intelligent learning environments for novice programmers. An intelligent learning environment ITEM/IP is described. The environment supports a course on introductory programming based on the mini-language Turi
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Peter L. Brusilovsky International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information, Kuusinen Sir. 21b, Moscow 125252, Russia
Abstract: The paper discusses some problems of building intelligent learning environments for novice programmers. An intelligent learning environment ITEM!IP is described. The environment supports a course on introductory programming based on the mini-language Turingal. The mini-language serves as a means of mastering the main concepts of programming, the structures of programming languages and skills in program design and debugging. ITEM/IP integrates a set of tools which support students as they learn to program.
Keywords: Intelligent learning environment, novice programmer, introductory programming, mini-language.
Introduction Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) and programming environments can be viewed as two opposite approaches to using advanced computer technologies for learning programming. Intelligent programming environments (intelligent learning environments for programming) attempt to bridge the gap between ITS and programming environments. Intelligent programming environments are able to offer the flexibility of microworld-like environments accompanied by an artificial intelligent coach or tutor. This paper discusses some problems of building intelligent programming environments, lists some useful components of them and suggests an approach to integrates the components. To illustrate the discussion we describe briefly ITEM/IP environment which supports a course on introductory programming
based on the mini-language Turingal. ITEM/IP attempts to integrate the capabilities of a tutoring system, programming environment and on-line reference manual for programming. E. Lemut et al. (eds.), Cognitive Models and Intelligent Environments for Learning Programming © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1993
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1. Intelligent Programming Environments A variety of computer systems and tools have been designed to help teachers and students at all stages of learning programming. These systems and tools can be divided roughly into two classes: tutoring systems and programming environments. A tutoring system supports the work of human programming tutor in a traditional learning process. It presents teaching material to the student, guides or coaches the student problem solving activity and checks the student programs. Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) employ artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to work at the level of a skilled human teacher. However, most of these systems are not aimed to replace the human teacher in the classroom, but rather to decrease the amount of non-creative classroom work of a teacher in the course of programming. The systems allow a teacher to have more time for creative work with the weakest and the strongest students. A programming environment supports the work of a student and the process of exploratory learning. A student is provided with a set of tools which supports the design and debugging of student programs and lets the student experiment with the progr
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