Intelligent tutoring system for training in design and manufacturing

Education is currently undergoing a major transition in modem societies. Many authorities attribute this transition to serious limitations in the traditional lecturing approach to education, which places the student in a passive role. Recently, a wave of innovations, which is stimulated by the revolution in the Information Technology, promises to revitalise schools and the education system. The paper presents an intelligent tutoring system STATFAG for education on design, optimisation and the manufacturing of gears and gearing. STATFAG serves several purposes. It helps lecturers to plan and execute optimal lessons for various subjects; it makes self-studies of students of higher level of education at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering much more efficient; and also assists less experienced graduates who must independently design gear assemblies in companies. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.