Intelligent diagnostic problem solving tutor: an experimental evaluation

The authors describe an experimental evaluation of an intelligent tutoring system designed to train operators to troubleshoot a marine power plant. Three training conditions were explored: training with simulator, training with a passive tutor and training with an active tutor. Along with the training condition effect, the effect of seen status of a problem was also analyzed. The results of the analysis show that a simulator alone is inadequate. A simulator in conjunction with a computer-based tutor can help develop efficient troubleshooting skills. The troubleshooting performance of students improves with practice and familiarity with a problem. No all students are equally receptive to every tutoring strategy and provisions must be made in training programs for individual preferences and differences in abilities and styles