The systematic application of the apprenticeship learning pedagogy to computer tutorial design

Describes the Collaborative Apprenticeship Learning Object Toolkit (CALOT), an architecture that forms the basis of a family of tutoring systems. It utilizes the apprenticeship model of learning for the study of operational procedures where theory and practice are both important. Systems built upon the CALOT architecture can be utilized by multiple, non-colocated students in a synchronous manner. A distributed set of students can collaborate on the tutorial in real-time. The development of this type of computer tutorial system is driven by the goal of linking theoretical knowledge with practical operational experience. Active, exploratory, apprentice-style learning is supported via modes of operation within the system. The student can flexibly choose to observe the expert perform and explain operational steps, or to act as an apprentice and carry out the steps autonomously. The student can switch between these modes at their discretion, giving the student control of the level of intervention by the system. Furthermore, the student can explore and reflect on an information space of object designations, procedures and related concepts. Two examples tutorials based on the CALOT architecture are the Collaborative Virtual Spectrometer and the Virtual X-Ray Diffractometer, which teach about NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Finally, BAUEN (Basic AUthoring ENvironment) is a GUI system that helps the software developer designer author a CALOT-based computer tutorial system with maximum efficiency, focusing the developer´s efforts on domain content, and not on the system implementation