From student modeling to user modeling

In this paper the role of student modeling in intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) and the implications of this research area for user modeling are explored from an artificial intelligence perspective. User modeling is a central activity for adaptive interactive systems. We are particularly concerned with systems providing consultation, presentation, help, training and tutoring about a specific domain, where the perceptions of the system about the user are taken into account in order to make the interaction more individualized on the basis of her/his needs and characteristics. We critically examine some existing ITSs, present a rational reconstruction based on the first-order logic of their student modeling activity, and discuss the relationships with user modeling