Self-Questioning and Experimentation: An Index Vocabulary of Situated Interaction

Various cognitive and computational models have addressed the use of previous experience to understand a new domain. In particular, research in case-based reasoning has explored the ideas of retrieving and adapting previous experience in the form of cases. If the cases take the form of plans, the process is referred to as case-based planning. We have developed a computational model of Exploratory Discovery which integrates case-based reasoning and case-based planning. Motivated by results from cognitive science, we incorporated in this model the features of exploration and self-questioning to improve the case-based learning process. This paper will focus on the index vocabulary needed to accomplish the interaction between the case-based generation of self-questions and the case-based experimentation process. The interaction depends on questions asked, answers given, and previously performed experiments. Interaction is therefore situated. 1. Continuous Case-Based Reasoning When people are exposed to an unfamiliar task such as understanding a new device, they are sometimes reminded of previous experience in other domains. Cognitive models of reminding have evolved in an attempt to explain this phenomenon (e.g., Ross 1989). The concept of re-use of previous experience has been exploited in the paradigm of case-based reasoning where previous experience is usually represented as cases (see Kolodner 1993 for an overview). There is a strong mutual relationship between cognitive models of reminding and case-based reasoning. Perhaps the most crucial issues in case-based reasoning are the retrieval and modification of previous 1st UK Workshop on Case-Based Reasoning, 1995