The Effect of Assistance on Learning and Affect in an Algebra Tutor

We investigated the impact of assistance on learning and affect during problem-solving activities with a computer tutor we built using the Cognitive Tutor Authoring Tools framework. The tutor delivered its primary form of assistance in the form of worked-out examples. We manipulated the level of assistance the examples in the tutor provided, by having similar problem-example pairs in one version of the tutor (high-assistance condition) and reduced similarity problem-example pairs in the other version (reduced-assistance condition). The reduced-assistance condition resulted in significantly higher learning, without increasing negative affect like frustration.