Automated Tutoring System: Mobile Collaborative Experiential Learning (MCEL)

Abstract

This paper reports a new simulated smart learning environment, called MCEL (Mobile Collaborative Experiential Learning). MCEL provides automated, continuous, personalized, formative feedback. Students interact with the simulated learning system via simple text messages using mobile devices in order to change the state of the system to a desired state over time. In the process, students engage in complex problem solving activities, and the system provides continuous formative assessment to help the students achieve learning objectives. Unlike conventional summative assessment approaches, students acquire set competency levels during their journey to achieving certain goals while interacting with the simulated system. MCEL allows instructors easily define learning journeys using event-condition-action (ECA) rules and reliable structured-text parser. A pilot study of MCEL is conducted and evaluated on a group of twenty IT students. Their participation is observed and a survey is conducted. The evaluation result show that MCEL supports constructive alignment in curriculum design, contextualized experimental learning, and personalized formative learning.