"'kybernetische Pp Adagogik"' and Intelligent Tutoring Systems

"Kybernetische PP adagogik" (cybernetic pedagogic) and research in "Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS)" basically are based on the same idea: to model the structure and process of instruction where the goal is to develop a learner-adaptive, exible and objective teaching programs. The theoretical background was developed by the cybernetic pedagogic. As H. Frank ((Frank70b], S. 260f) realized instructional processes are kind of information processing. Therefore instruction can be described as an feedback-driven information system. The behavior of this system is aaected by six variables: the so called psychological structure(P) representing the learners initial state of knowledge as well as her learning abilities, the media(M) carrying the information, the teaching algorithm(B) representing the teaching strategies and abilities, the subject (L) and the teaching goals (Z) as well as the sociological context (S) in which teaching takes place (see gure 1, page 3). In the context of cybernetic pedagogic the variables P, M , L, Z , S are given B is searched for. Research in ITS founded a similar model of instruction. The basic elements of an ITS are the knowledge base (s L) representing the knowledge the system has about the subject, the student model(s P) representing the knowledge which the system diagnoses the learner has, the didactic model (s B) modulating teaching strategies and the user-interface (s M) (see gure 2, page 4). An important improvement compared to cybernetic pedagogic is that the variables are modeled as dynamic variables which eeect each other during the learning sessions. This became possible with the help of new methods in computing science, specially with the help of AI-methods. So it seems that the ideas of cybernetic pedagogic could be put into practice due to new methods in artiicial intelligence. One weak point in ITS is the modeling of learning goals. But learning goals are important for the control of learning processes. I will give a short insight to my ideas to get over this weak point. 1 Cybernetics and cybernetic pedagogic It is thanks to Norbert Wiener(1948) that the deenition of cybernetics is referred not only to technical systems but to all artiicial or living things which have the capability of information processing. Cybernetics in this meaning is the scientiic study of the structure and functioning of information-systems where information-systems are systems that can receive, process and transfer information no matter how these systems are represented. Goals of research in the eld of …