A task-driven approach to knowledge acquisition, analysis and representation for intelligent training systems

The authors present work in progress to develop a task driven approach to acquiring, analyzing and representing knowledge for an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) for training operators and maintainers of a process control system. The research premise is that using a task model approach provides direction and infrastructure for acquiring, analyzing, and representing domain-specific knowledge and makes possible the development of an ITS that teaches domain users to perform tasks in the right way at the right time. To demonstrate the efficacy of a task-based approach to knowledge analysis and representation, the authors contrast it with two alternative approaches: component-based and problem-based approaches to knowledge analysis and representation. The task-based approach described not only contains elements of both component- and problem-based approaches, but does so within the context of the specific job being performed, and the function of the person performing that job