Evaluation of an intelligent tutoring system for arithmetic and fractions
Carole R. Beal
University of Arizona
Ivon M. Arroyo
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Paul R. Cohen
University of Arizona
Beverly P. Woolf
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Abstract
Three studies were conducted with middle school students to evaluate a web-based intelligent tutoring system (ITS) for arithmetic and fractions. The studies involved pre and post test comparisons, as well as group comparisons to assess the impact of the ITS on students’ math problem solving. Results indicated that students improved from pre to post test after working with the ITS, whereas students who simply repeated the tests showed no improvement. Students who had more sessions with the ITS improved more than those with less access to the software. Improvement was greatest for students with the weakest initial math skills, who were also most likely to use the multimedia help resources for learning that were integrated into the software.
About the Author(s)...
Carole R. Beal is Professor of Cognitive Science at the University of Arizona. Her work focuses on the design, deployment and evaluation of online instruction for K12 students. She can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Ivon M. Arroyo is Senior Postdoctoral Fellow in the Computer Science Department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research is in the area of intelligent tutoring systems for math and science. She can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Paul R. Cohen is Professor and Head of the Computer Science Department at the University of Arizona. He directs research projects on intelligent systems, data mining and machine learning. His email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Beverly P. Woolf is Research Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She directs research projects on distance education and tutoring systems for K12 and university students. Her email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
