Abstract
An exploration environment and tutoring strategies were developed for the first few hours of learning the programming language LISP. In this environment, the amount of exploratory and receptive learning can be systematically manipulated. In an experimental study with three different learning conditions, learning in a basic exploration environment (without an automated tutor) was compared to learning with an automated tutor that provided help rather selectively, and with an automated tutor that provided help whenever possible. The results showed that the selective tutor condition was most effective: The students in this condition took the least time in acquiring knowledge and solving the criterion test tasks, while solving equal numbers of the tasks correctly.
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This research was supported by grant Schm 648/1 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to the first author and by an equipment grant from IBM/Canada to McGill University.
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Schmalhofer, F., Kühn, O., Charron, R. et al. An implementation and empirical evaluation of an exploration environment with different tutoring strategies. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 22, 179–183 (1990). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03203142
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03203142