TRETC 2017

Rimac is an online dialogue-based computer tutor that helps high school students reflect on the concepts involved in the Physics problems they just solved for homework. During the past 7 years, over 300 Pittsburgh-area high school students and their teachers have helped us develop Rimac and discover what does and doesn’t work when you attempt to emulate a human tutor using current technology. We’ve experimented with adapting a variety of tactics inspired by educators and researchers for use in Rimac and have found what does and does not translate well and for whom. We have just created a new version of Rimac using what we’ve learned so far to personalize the tactics that Rimac applies during its interaction with a student. Attendees will learn what pedagogy/theory worked well in Rimac and for whom through posters and interactions with the presenters.Attendees will learn how the latest version of Rimac personalizes instruction by directly interacting with the system.Attendees will learn how particular tactics are implemented by Rimac through demonstration videos.