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The field of Artificial intelligence has gained momentum in the recent past. This advanced field of research has significant applications in the field of edification mainly for making learning and teaching more effective. The realization of which has led to the creation of multiple educational computer artifacts that in turn developed in the field of intelligent tutoring. The introduction and development of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) were a major factor in driving growth in the field of intelligent tutoring representing a culmination of disciplines of educational research, computer science and cognitive psychology (Nwana, 1990). The resultant products, termed as cognitive tutors, behave like human tutors, that often learning to suit the learning preference of the learner and progress as per performance and behavior of the learner.
Web based systems are an abundant source of education with availability of study material, but when considering the learner’s needs of adaptation and personalization, the lack of these capabilities reveals. Additionally, the web is full of overloading and accessibility issues. This poses difficulty for a learner to attain her/his focused learning objectives. Highlighting the importance of adaptivity, in learning environment, following points are listed. First: Every learner differs in goals and objective, pattern of learning, abilities, preferences, and also prior-knowledge level. Prior-knowledge level is a metric that discriminates learners with the same learning pattern but differing knowledge levels. Secondly: learner specific learning paths generated to help the learner navigate through a course designed by an adaptive system (Gutiérrez. 2007; Latha & Kirubakaran, 2013).
Intelligent tutoring systems over a period of time have become progressively effective, but are tough and costly to build. Same authoring tools have originated and have shown limited usage in ITS development in the past.
Existing ITS are broadly classified into two classes: class one highly emphasized on traditional curriculum and class two highly emphasize on simulating a learning instructional environment. Going by the same philosophy, the current similarly existing authoring tools have been classified into two broad categories: Performance-oriented and Pedagogy-oriented. These renders ITS, that fall under the same two groups, pedagogy and performance oriented ITS. Performance oriented systems, provide rich learning atmosphere in which learner, learns the skills by practice and receives related feedback. Pedagogy-oriented systems, teach and sequence canned courseware. These systems pay attention towards representation of their teaching content, tactics and strategies. The performance-based systems provide procedural guidance (step-wise) as and when needed while pedagogy-oriented systems, emphasis on planning and instructing at a more general level. Although the number of ITS is low in percentage, but the overall impact on learning is high. Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) is computer aided instruction software that mimics the behavior and guidance of human tutor. One of the reasons, that distinguishes ITS from other computer aided instruction and e-Learning systems, is learnability adapted to complex learner behaviors. This system creates profile for each learner and determines the learner’s degree of understandability, learning preference and learning style. The intelligence exhibited by the system, involves change of tutoring style in real time, providing impressive interaction with learner, adjusting its knowledge base as per learner responses and comfort level. One of the misconceptions about ITS is that, it is aimed to replace human tutors rather it was designed to work individually and simultaneously with a large group of learners. Intelligent tutor contributes to reduce the anxiety of learner about not being able to get a concept and further to enhance learner’s degree of understandability. Intelligent tutoring system provides a refined teaching routine providing a teacher with real time tutoring material. Table 1 illustrates the few existing ITS, that shows a reasonable learning gain when tested over learners.