Designing Computer Games to Facilitate Learning

The aim of this thesis was to explore the design of interactive computer learning environments. The particular learning domain selected was Newtonian dynamics. Newtonian dynamics was chosen because it is an important area of physics with which many students have difficulty and because controlling Newtonian motion takes advantage of the computer's graphics and interactive capabilities. The learning environment involved games which simulated the motion of a spaceship on a display screen. The purpose of the games was to focus the students' attention on various aspects of the implications of Newton's laws.

Flexibility and Efficiency in a Computer Program for Designing Circuits

This report is concerned with the problem of achieving flexibility (additivity, modularity) and efficiency (performance, expertise) simultaneously in one AI program. It deals with the domain of elementary electronic circuit design. The proposed solution is to provide a deduction-driven problem solver with built-in-control-structure concepts. This problem solver and its knowledge base in the applicaitn areas of design and electronics are descrbed. The prgram embodying it is being used to explore the solutionof some modest problems in circuit design. It is concluded that shallow reasoning about problem-solver plans is necessary for flexibility, and can be implemented with reasonable efficiency.