Provides a brief introduction to the basics of artificial intelligence and expert systems and explains terms in general use. (CLB)

Outlines an explicit research agenda to address the development of expert systems for reference services. The discussion specifically addresses system testing, describes what has been done, evaluates existing systems, identifies work in progress, and raises seven critical questions in this area. (58 references) (Author/CLB)

Current notions of metacognition merge with the predominant scientific model used in psychology, that of information processing. Metacognition is seen as a control process that governs the action of more elemental cognitive skills. Given the centrality of this notion, it is important that metacognition should be examined in detail. From the point…

Introduces some general concepts and techniques of artificial intelligence (natural language interfaces, expert systems, knowledge bases and knowledge representation, heuristics, user-interface metaphors, and object-based environments) and investigates ways these techniques might be applied to analysis, design, development, implementation, and…

Evaluates several views of the relationship between computers and education, and criticizes the use of artificial intelligence and natural language processing software for evaluating student writing. Recommends utilizing programs that use heuristic methods to ask students a series of questions to help them organize and compose papers. (SKC)