DNA: Toward an automated knowledge elicitation and organization tool

This chapter describes the new computer program Decompose, Network, Assess (DNA). As a bonus, DNA is intended to provide a principled approach to the currently unstandardized process of knowledge elicitation and organization. DNA consists of a core of four interactive modules that automate the knowledge elicitation and organization processes: Customize, Decompose, Network, and Assess. Upon receipt of the letter and installation of the software, the SME goes through a short orientation program that provides an overview of DNA and transitions directly into the Decompose module. Some basic research questions that the author explore with DNA include examining novice-to-expert transitions within disparate domains and comparing knowledge representations underlying different levels of expertise within the same domain. DNA promises to be a useful knowledge elicitation and organization tool for developing curriculum, representing a good first step towards opening up the bottleneck in intelligent tutoring system development as related to the expert model.