User interface specification issues for computerized educational systems

Abstract

Aside from the great progress in the field of humancomputer interaction, particularly in the last years the need for the development of adaptive user interfaces in several application areas has been recognized. Our research is concentrated on intelligent tutoring systems, a generation of computerized educational systems that attempt to mimic the capabilities of human tutor. In order to support the above reasoning, in this paper we elaborate on the case study of AKBB, a program intended for the development of an arbitrary domain knowledge base and of its user interface. In order to specify its design and behaviour, User Action Notation is advocated as a suitable method.