ABSTRACT
The Center for the Study of Adult Literacy (CSAL) is a national research center that investigates reading problems in adults and that develops instructional interventions tailored to their needs. A web-based instructional tutor is a practical solution for comprehension instruction, because many adults have busy schedules or transportation problems and because many literacy teachers have limited knowledge of comprehension training. CSAL AutoTutor is an intelligent tutoring system on the web that delivers comprehension instruction. The system includes two computer agents that hold a conversation with the human and with each other and thereby guide the human in learning comprehension skills and using the computer facility. The AutoTutor lessons each take 10 to 50 minutes to complete and are assigned by teachers on the research team in a hybrid intervention with both teachers and computer facilities. The strategies are aligned with a PACES intervention, which teachers have successfully implemented to improve reading comprehension in high school students with reading difficulties.
