Intelligent tutoring system for learning programming

Abstract

Tutoring systems for programming help students understand features of target programming languages, and develop their general problem solving skills. Our system guides novices in learning syntax and semantics of programming language, problem decomposition, program design and testing. It is language independent, automatically adjusting course material to the language - subject of learning. Semantic analysis of student's programs is based on comparison of abstract semantics trees of student's and modelprogram. Model-program is coded by innovative programming language describing goals and variants of possible solutions. The notional machine defined by programming language, its verbal description of instruction actions and visualization of program execution, helps students to understand semantics of teaching language. Advancement through the course material controlled by computer teacher supports connection of new concepts to the present student's knowledge. The system applies distinct teaching strategies to stoppers and movers. © 2011, IGI Global.