"MAN": Adaptive Teaching and Learning Laboratory


The program MAN combines the three adaptive educational tools, TUT, GUY, and STU into a single simulation code.


Here's a sample MAN dialog showing one complete presentation cycle of an arithmetic problem to the (simulated) student:

In sequence, TUT poses the question (Q), then the student perceives the question (P). Next, the student Central Processor module consults the Working Memory and obtains its response (W), along with a "certainty" rating between 0 and 1. The student module, STU, also initiates a query to Long Term Memory (LTM), which responds with its answer and certainty rating. In the mode of operation selected for this run, the LTM response (L) is first transferred to WM, and then returned to the Central Processor (LW) with an adjusted certainty. In this example, the LTM response is both incorrect and less certain than the WM response, so the "Net" response (N) is taken from the WM. The Response Module processes the output (R) and the student's answer (A) is sent back to TUT. TUT reports the student's response time (1.7 seconds), and confirms to the student that the answer is correct.

Immediately after the confirmation above, STU uses the information provided by TUT to train its internal NN's:me ansrman1.htm

STU uses the confirmation to update the WM and LTM modules. During the WM-Net refresh operation, one of the temporary connections (#8) in WM-Net (wmn) expires, leaving 39 data chains in use. Also, the information is sent to LTM (cnn, the CNLS Network) for a cycle of training.

Next time the student's Long Term Memory will do better on this problem!


Next, if you'd like, you can look at one or two longer MAN dialogs:

-- MAN Dialog Sample #2 shows a portion of a complete session with a "Super Student"

-- MAN Dialog Sample #3 shows a portion of a game with a simulated student that has very serious perception inaccuracies


Ready to look at some more advanced "MAN" simulation examples?


Return to Phase I Results Page or ANSR / DOEd SBIR Project Page


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