The Design and Implementation of an Engine and Authoring Tool for Web-based Learn-by-doing Environments

An important skill engineering students need to learn is how to solve problems by running experiments and using the results to make a sound diagnosis of the problem. This paper describes a software tool called Indie, which includes an authoring tool and a contentindependent engine, for delivering web-based learn-by-doing environments where students can practice such skill in an authentic task. We focus on how the architecture of the tool makes it possible for teachers as non-programmers to customize the content of the learning environment as well as access and critique student activities in the learning environment. We present preliminary results showing that the Corrosion Investigator, a learning environment delivered by Indie, proves to be beneficial for both the students and teacher in a class.