Using computers in a natural language mode for elementary education

This paper considers the interface between an elementary school child, specifically a fourth grade student, and a computerized fact retrieval system. One goal of the study was to transfer the communication burden from the user of a computerized system to the computer. Rather than training the student to use an artificial programming language as the communication medium, it was deemed preferable to attempt to use the child's own natural language. First, data was collected to determine what subset of English that natural language might be and to provide a grammar for it. After a grammar was constructed, a system was developed which would allow an elementary school child to query the system about history and geography. The implementation, based on augmented transition networks, is described.

Another goal of the study was to investigate the effect of such a system on education. For this reason, the system was tested in a classroom environment. An open classroom was chosen to allow the students a reasonable amount of freedom in using the system. In addition to learning history and geography facts, the students appeared to receive other benefits. The results of the study indicate that in certain situations, it may be possible for a computer to function as a tutor.