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Clustering the learning patterns of adults with low literacy skills interacting with an intelligent tutoring system
Psychology Faculty Publications
  • Ying Fang, University of Memphis
  • Keith Shubeck, University of Memphis
  • Anne Lippert, University of Memphis
  • Qinyu Cheng, University of Memphis
  • Genghu Shi, University of Memphis
  • Shi Feng, University of Memphis
  • Jessica Gatewood, University of Memphis
  • Su Chen, University of Memphis
  • Zhiqiang Cai, University of Memphis
  • Philip Pavlik, University of Memphis
  • Jan Frijters, Brock University
  • Daphne Greenberg, Georgia State University
  • Arthur Graesser, University of Memphis
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract

A common goal of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) is to provide learning environments that adapt to the varying abilities and characteristics of users. To do this, researchers must identify the learning patterns exhibited by those interacting with the system. In the present work, we use clustering analysis to capture learning patterns in over 250 adults who used the ITS, CSAL (Center for the Study of Adult Literacy) AutoTutor, to gain reading comprehension skills. AutoTutor has conversational agentsth at teach literacy adults with low literacy skills comprehension strategies in 35 lessons. These comprehension strategies align with one or more of the following levels specified in the Graesser-McNamara theoretical framework of comprehension: word, textbase, situation model and rhetorical structure. We used the adult learners’ average response times per question and performance across lessons to cluster the students’ learning behavior. Performance was measured as the proportion of 3-alternative-response questions answered correctly. Lessons were coded on one of the four theoretical levels of comprehension. Results of the cluster analyses converged on four types of learners: proficient readers, struggling readers, conscientious readers and disengaged readers. Proficient readers were fast and accurate; struggling readers worked slowly but were not accurate; conscientious readers worked slowly and performed comparatively well; disengaged readers were fast but did not perform well. Interestingly, the behaviors of learners in different clusters varied across the four theoretical levels. Identifying types of readers can enhance the adaptivity of AutoTutor by allowing for more personalized feedback and interventions designed for particular learning behaviors.

Citation Information
Ying Fang, Keith Shubeck, Anne Lippert, Qinyu Cheng, et al.. "Clustering the learning patterns of adults with low literacy skills interacting with an intelligent tutoring system" (2018)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/anne-lippert/6/