Using Bayesian Networks for Student Modeling

Abstract

This chapter purveys an account of Bayesian networks-related technologies for modeling students in intelligent tutoring systems. Uncertainty exists ubiquitously when we infer students’ internal status, for example, learning needs and emotion, from their external behavior, for example, responses to test items and explorative actions. Bayesian networks offer a mathematically sound mechanism for representing and reasoning about students under uncertainty. This chapter consists of five sections, and commences with a brief overview of intelligent tutoring systems, emphasizing the needs for uncertain reasoning. A succinct survey of Bayesian networks for student modeling is provided in Bayesian Networks, and we go through an example of applying Bayesian networks and mutual information to item selection in computerized adaptive testing in Applications to Student Models. We then touch upon influence diagrams and dynamic Bayesian networks for educational applications in More Graphical Models, and wrap up the chapter with an outlook and discussion for this research direction.