Using Automatically Generated Students' Clickable Conceptual Models for E-tutoring

Computer methods for evaluating student’s knowledge have traditionally been based on Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) or fillin-the-blank exercises, which do not provide a reliable basis upon which to assess student’s underlying misconceptions. Because of this lack, we have devised and implemented a procedure for automatically deriving clickable students’ conceptual models from their free-text answers. A student’s conceptual model can be defined as a network of interrelated concepts associated with a confidence value that indicates how well each student knows a concept. Several knowledge representation formats are used to show the generated conceptual model to the student. Furthermore, students can click on the concepts to get more information about them. 22 English Studies students are taking advantage of this new resource to review their Pragmatics course. Initial results show that they have found it very useful and claim that it is a good support for their review of the subject.