Linking Cognitive Styles to Instructional Strategies for Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Computer-based instruction offers the opportunity to increase training efficiency by adapting training to the individual needs and characteristics of the operator, but insight is needed into how to make the best use of this potential. ALPHATECH proposes to design (In Phase I) and develop (in Phase II) an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) that adapts to intrinsic differences in the way that individual learners acquire and use information--stable, pervasive differences in cognitive styles. The proposed innovation for the project is the systematic and incremental development of conceptual links between the learner's cognitive styles and methods for organizing instruction and presenting information during training for specific tasks performed in the Combat Information Center (CIC) on Navy ships. These conceptual links will guide the development of ITS software during Phase II. We will test the effectiveness of the ITS through experiments in Phase II, and refine the conceptual links and the ITS design based on the results.