An expert system for teaching summarization

Abstract

Summarization is the distillation of important information from a source into an abridged form for a particular user or task. It is a difficult skill for students to acquire requiring much practice to master. Summarization allows students to develop a deep understanding of complex material. Teachers have noted marked differences in depth of understanding of topics that have been summarized as opposed to merely read by students. The educational benefits of summarization have been borne out in numerous studies. On the other hand, the amount of work required to evaluate multiple drafts of students’ writing can be overwhelming. There are some systems for teaching summarization using new technologies like internet, blogging plus some interactive tools. However, there are many problems to be addressed. For example, none of the tools are able to help students produce a summary in a step-by-step manner. In this study, we describe an Intelligent Learning Prototype which provides a step-by-step environment by using expert system technique. Student can follow an eight-step procedure involving both general and specific rules about how to write a summary. Each step focuses on certain part of the text that is important to write a summary. The prototype provides students with extensive writing practice without increasing the teacher’s workload. Finally, we conclude the efficiency of applying expert system in learning systems.