Building databases for the computer-based memorization system

The Computer-Based Memorization System (CBMS) consists of eight games used by students to memorize groups of related facts that are stored in an associative network. The instructional design is built into the games. Designing and implementing associative networks for the CBMS is very different from the creation of traditional script-based Computer-Aided Instruction (CAI). The majority of the authoring effort is concentrated on the specification and representation of the factual knowledge t o be mastered by students. This report describes the cognitive science basis for CBMS and aspects of authoring CBMS databases. The associative networks used with CBMS have been modified for educational applications. First, numbers are associated with nodes and facts (two nodes connected by a link). These numbers permit the development of a model of the students' knowledge which permit the games to adapt to student performance. The numbers may be set by Author's to emphasize important facts. Second, pictures may be associated with nodes. Third, groups of anticipated answers may be associated with nodes to allow ranges of acceptable student answers.