Authoring a Thermodynamics Cycle Tutor Using GIFT

The main idea of generalized intelligent tutoring system (ITS) development tools like Generalized Intelligent Framework for Tutoring (GIFT) is to provide authors with high-level standards and a readily reusable structure within different domains. Hence, adapting such a tool could be the best way to boost an underdeveloped tutor. In this paper we propose the design for a new GIFT-based tutor for undergraduate thermodynamics. An existing Thermodynamics Cycle Tutor has been designed that is meant to facilitate problem framing for undergraduate students. We describe the advantages of integrating this tutor with GIFT to add student models. Also an approach for evaluating the pedagogical performance of the GIFT-enhanced tutor is described