Design and data analysis of exercises with hints

Abstract

The provision of hints during exercise sessions has a positive impact in the learning outcome. Based on it, we defined a specification for the provision of hints in problem based learning and we created a hint player as an extension to the XTutor Intelligent Tutoring System. We have introduced this tool in two university courses (Communication Software and Information Servers). This work shows a specific methodology of how to apply our approach in the classroom for both courses, in an easy way for teachers, from the design to the subsequent data analysis of exercises with hints. Regarding the design of exercises with hints we show how to create them directly in XML based on our specification, and we also present a new authoring tool which we have created that is easy to use by teachers without high technological knowledge. With respect to the subsequent data analysis, we explain an initial evaluation model of the concepts explained, the students' level and the exercises based on the information of the hint system. In addition, some correlation results regarding the use of the system and the students' grades is presented. © 2008 IEEE.