A method for developing a reusable expert tutoring system architecture based on domain engineering and object-oriented software development concepts

This project investigated the concept of a reusable nongenerative expert tutoring system (ETS) architecture that could be used as a domain-specific architecture or framework for the development of nongenerative computer-based instructional applications. This project focused on the application of two design disciplines: (1) domain engineering (analysis and modeling), and (2) object-oriented (OO) software development. Domain engineering concepts were applied to the Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) domain for the purpose of identifying common ITS components and how these components interfaced with each other and with the ITS user. After the ITS components and their interfaces were identified, a reusable "product-line" architecture was derived. OO software development concepts were investigated for the purpose of identifying the design and programming features that would easily permit the expansion of the reusable ITS architecture.;This project was divided into the following three parts: (1) a survey of the literature that focused on ITS architectures, OO software development concepts, and software reuse concepts; (2) the development of a reusable ETS architecture with expansion capabilities; and (3) the development of a nongenerative instructional system prototype demonstrating the application of the reusable ETS architecture and a methodology for system expansion.;This project demonstrated that an OO-based reusable ETS architecture that incorporated an OO-based system expansion methodology could provide a model for implementing nongenerative instructional systems that: (1) addresses many identified Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) deficiencies, (2) does not require the level of development effort associated with ITSs, and (3) does not incorporate the documented ITS software design and development deficiencies. In the development of the reusable ETS architecture, this project also demonstrated the application of two design disciplines: (1) domain engineering (analysis and modeling), and (2) OO software development concepts. Domain analysis was applied to the ITS domain to identify common ITS components and component interfaces. The results of the domain analysis were used to create a reusable "product-line" architecture. OO software development concepts were used to design and implement a capability to expand the reusable ETS architecture. Finally, this project developed a nongenerative computer-based instructional system prototype to demonstrate that the reusable ETS architecture and system expansion methodology could be used as a model for implementing nongenerative instructional systems. The prototype system's subject domain was a set of MS-DOS operating system commands.