An intelligent tutor for teaching/learning programming with model-based hierarchical diagnosis techniques

• Wellington R. Pinheiro USP
• Leliane N. de Barros USP

Abstract

Model based diagnosis from Artificial Intelligence is a technique that has been used to detect faulty components in physical systems as well as faults in software systems. Although this approach is useful to help experienced programmers to detect faults in theirs programs, it must be adapted to be used with novice programmers. In this papers, we show an approach to automatic debugging that explores abstract components (functions, procedures or elementary patterns) to perform an hierarchical program diagnose. This way, the hypotheses of failure are communicated to the student at each abstract level, increasing his opportunity of learning.

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