COMPUTER-AIDED-INSTRUCTION SYSTEMS FOR PLANT-OPERATORS

Two types of CAI systems have been developed which make it possible to provide consistent education in plant operation for personnel from no vice to expert levels and on to professionals like shift supervisors. The main features are summarized as follows. (1) Realization of an att ractive feature, representing the fusion of education and amusement. A two layer structure was adopted, so operators can get systematic know ledge spontaneously, while enjoying the task. In the lower layer which is hidden from the operators, an education scenario was created to pr ovide overall knowledge for the plant operators, such as system config urations and functions, and normal and emergency operation procedures. In the upper layer which is shown to operators, an attractive story w ith a game feeling was constructed corresponding to the education scen ario. (2) Satisfaction of intrinsic motivation, representing instructi on according to the learners' level. The student model is derived from a hierarchical function model which is a goal-oriented mental model o f a plant operator. It is common to both the teaching course for prese nting text knowledge of emergency procedures and the indicating course for actual plant behaviour and procedures using the plant simulator. The understanding level of each node (element of a function) in the mo del is evaluated by personal history conditions calculated from both t he tutoring record of the node and the understanding level of the conn ecting nodes. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited