i-Prolog: A web-based intelligent tutoring system for learning prolog

Abstract

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) incorporate techniques for transferring knowledge and skills to students. These systems use a combination of computer-aided instruction methods and artificial intelligence. In this paper we present a web-based intelligent tutoring system. Although it can be used as a generic learning mechanism, in this paper, as a proof of concept we used it for learning Prolog. We present the architecture of our system and we provide details on each one of its modules. Each lesson includes the corresponding lecture with theory and exercises, a practice module where students can apply the corresponding theory and an assessment module to verify user’s understanding. The system can be used with or without a teacher enabling distant learning. Among the novelties of our system is its flexibility to adapt to individual student choices and profile, offering a wide range of alternatives and trying to continuously keep the interest of the final user. The preliminary evaluation performed confirms the usability of our system and the benefits of using it for learning Prolog.