The Use of an Intelligent Tutoring Program to Promote Independent Problem-Solving Skills of Students With Learning Disabilities or Difficulties

Abstract

Educational laws and current standards emphasize fostering conceptual understanding in problem-solving, as well as cultivating higher-order thinking and reasoning skills, with the ultimate goal of developing independent mathematical thinkers. The purpose of this study, conducted at a Midwest U.S. elementary school, was to explore the impact of the Please Go Bring Me-COnceptual Model-based Problem-Solving intelligent tutor on word problem-solving skills and multiplicative concept development of students with learning disabilities or difficulties in mathematics. The multiple-probe across-participants design was used to explore the functional relationship between the intervention program and students’ problem-solving skills and the development of conceptual knowledge. Concept development was measured by the levels of independence in solving problems provided by the intelligent tutor. Results showed that the tutoring system was effective in promoting students’ critical thinking and word problem-solving performance. It seems that features, such as the guided discovery strategy embedded in the tutoring system may have contributed to students’ development as an independent problem solver.

Keywords

word problem-solving intelligent tutor independent problem solver conceptual knowledge

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