The goal of excellence in subject matter applications of computers is still distant. More often than not, the computer becomes the object of study rather than a tool for the in-depth study of a subject. Discussed is what needs to be done to have knowledge-based systems of pedagogically excellent software. (MT)

EX.MAIN, a model for maintenance and staff training which combines knowledge based expert systems and computer based training, was developed jointly by the Department of Production Engineering of the University of Naples and CIRCUMVESUVIANA, the largest private railroad in Italy. It is a global model in the maintenance field which contains both…

Discusses the nature and current state of knowledge-based systems and expert systems. Describes an expert system from the viewpoints of a computer programmer and an applications expert. Addresses concerns related to materials selection and forecasts future developments in the teaching of materials engineering. (ML)

Describes an expert system microcomputer-based program, ZEERA, which is designed to help users understand and perform statistical analyses. Computer-assisted instruction and the traditional approach of drill and practice are discussed, and benefits of using ZEERA are described based on testing in a university elementary statistics course. (11…

This paper describes the Guided Approach to Instructional Design Advising (GAIDA), an automated instructional design tool that incorporates techniques of artificial intelligence. GAIDA was developed by the U.S. Air Force Armstrong Laboratory to facilitate the planning and production of interactive courseware and computer-based training materials.…

Students aged 10 to 17 years in a primary school and a secondary school in an industrial suburb of Melbourne, Australia, were observed as they worked at activities in both curriculum and non-curriculum areas using MITSI, a computer program, as a KBS (knowledge-based system) tool. Evaluations of the students' general abilities, computer abilities,…

This analysis of the relationship between science education and technology over the past 15 years focuses on lessons learned from research on learning and instruction, the relationship between the teacher and technology, and the influence of technological advances on educational practice. Five conclusions are drawn: (1) courseware authoring…

A brief overview of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is provided. The history and theoretical framework of CAI and typical developmental stages involved in the implementation of a CAI system are outlined. The way CAI determines background knowledge of a student, presents information necessary to learn new concepts, sets its pace according to…

Presents results of a survey that was conducted to examine the use of computers in the instructional process of Australian distance education. Highlights include computer-managed learning; computer-marked tests; computer-aided learning; expert systems; and relationships between the type of computer usage, the instructors' expectations, and…

Discusses knowledge base development as a pedagogical activity and describes a study of eighth graders that compared three instructional conditions: (1) expert system development work; (2) problem-solving activities using computer-assisted instruction; and (3) a control group that used traditional noncomputer methods. Pretest and posttest scores…

Discusses a computer database which includes optical properties of 142 minerals. Uses fuzzy logic to identify minerals from incomplete and imprecise information. Written in Turbo PASCAL for MS-DOS with 128K. (MVL)

Describes the construction of expert computer systems using artificial intelligence technology and commercially available software, known as an expert system shell. Provides two applications; a simple one, the identification of seven white substances, and a more complicated one involving the qualitative analysis of six metal ions. (TW)

This paper describes a system that provides faculty with automatic testing and grading online facilities, as well as course administration resources, using the World Wide Web as a common and ubiquitous interface. The system was built using the Common Lisp HTTP Server from MIT and its functionality to generate HTML "on the fly," which offers the…

This project explored the potential of applying the technologies of computer-assisted instruction and expert systems to implementation of cognitive and metacognitive strategy instruction programs. A prototype program consisting of three computer-assisted instruction modules was developed to teach procedures required for the use of skimming,…

The papers presented at the 1989 National Educational Computing Conference focused on ways of using technology to improve educational quality. Topics of the 50 papers and more than 120 abstracts provided in these proceedings include applications of artificial intelligence and the development of expert systems; authoring systems; using the computer…