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KERMIT: A Constraint-Based Tutor for Database Modeling

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Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS 2002)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2363))

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Abstract

KERMIT is an intelligent tutoring system that teaches conceptual database design using the Entity-Relationship data model. Database design is an open-ended task: although there is an outcome defined in abstract terms, there is no procedure to use to find that outcome. So far, constraint based modelling has been used in a tutor that teaches a database language (SQL-Tutor) and a system that teaches punctuation and capitalisation rules (CAPIT). Both systems have proved to be extremely effective in evaluations performed in real classrooms. In this paper, we present experiences in using CBM in an open-ended domain. We describe system’s architecture and functionality. KERMIT has also been evaluated in the context of genuine teaching activities. We present the results of an evaluation study with students taking a database course, which show that KERMIT is an effective system. The students enjoyed the system’s adaptability and found it a valuable asset to their learning.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Intelligent Computer Tutoring Group Computer Science Department, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Pramuditha Suraweera & Antonija Mitrovic

Authors
  1. Pramuditha Suraweera
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  2. Antonija Mitrovic
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. LIRMM, University of Montpellier II and CNRS, Montpellier, France

    Stefano A. Cerri

  2. LIUPPA, IUT de Bayonne - University of Pau, Bayonne, France

    Guy Gouardères

  3. Department of Information Technologies, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil

    Fàbio Paraguaçu

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© 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Suraweera, P., Mitrovic, A. (2002). KERMIT: A Constraint-Based Tutor for Database Modeling. In: Cerri, S.A., Gouardères, G., Paraguaçu, F. (eds) Intelligent Tutoring Systems. ITS 2002. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2363. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-47987-2_41

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-47987-2_41

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-43750-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47987-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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