TUTOR(ID:788/tut001)

Scripting for CAI 


Scripting language on PLATO CAI systems from CDC.

PLATO = Program Logic for Automatic Teaching Operation

version 1 experimental on the ILLIAC IV
version 2 permitted several users on ILLIAC IV
version 3 true time sharing, ported to the IBM 1604 and introducing a host of features suggested by trials


Hardware:
  • ILLIAC IV University of Chicago at Illinois/Burroughs

Related languages
CATO => TUTOR   Replacement for
TUTOR => CAMIL   Influence
TUTOR => DECAL   Influence
TUTOR => IDF   Influence
TUTOR => INSTRUCT   Influence
TUTOR => KAIL   Extension of

References:
  • Bitzer , D.L, P. Braunfeld & W, Lichtenberger, "PLATO: An automatic teaching device," IRE Transactions on Education, E-4, 157-161 (Dec 1961). view details
  • Bitzer, D. L.; and Braunfeld, P. G. Computer teaching machine project: PLATO on ILLIAC. Comput. Automat Feb. 1962), pp16-18. view details
  • Bitzer, D.L. & P. Braunfeld, "Problems and prospects of teaching with a computer" 1st Congress Inf. System Sciences, Session 14, Nov. 1962, pp69-92. Mitre Corp., Bedford, Mass. view details
  • Bitzer, D.L., W. Lichtenberger & P.G. Braunfeld, "PLATO II: A multiple-student computer controlled teaching machine" view details
          in Programmed Learning and Computer-based Instruction, ed. by Coulson, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1962 view details
  • Rodriguez, Fernando L. T. review of Bitzer and Braunfeld 1962 view details Abstract: Do not be misled by the title to this article. PLATO stands for nothing more exciting than "Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations." Still, it must be allowed that a certain limited amount of dialoguing is involved in the system honored by such initials. This is a device for individually teaching a number of students with the aid of a single general-purpose digital computer (the University of Illinois ILLIAC) operating on a time-sharing basis. Two-way communication is established through closed-circuit television. Textual material is presented from a central slide selector; at the other end, each student operates a keyset through which he answers such questions as some slides may pose, or indicates to the computer his need for reviewing a previous slide or for help (that is, additional textual material) in answering a question. Thus, though the basic presentation of various subjects is standard, each student proceeds at his own speed, the machine keeping a record of the time he took to absorb each "page" and of the points where help was required, as well as of mistakes which were made before a correct solution was reached. Changing of subject matter is accomplished through replacement of slides and topics range from mathematics to computer programming.

    No mention is made of principles underlying the presentation of a subject, or of the connection between this particular system and concepts developed in the last three decades by such pioneers as Pressey, Crowder and Skinner. One could also complain of the absence of any comparative analysis of actual results but this is probably due to the short time during which the system has been in operation.

          in ACM Computing Reviews 3(05) September-October 1962 view details
  • Aamoth, W. M. review of Bitzer 1962 (Problems) view details Abstract: The determination of data rates which a computer-based teaching system must handle was one of the primary objects of discussion in this paper, which reviewed the past and presented some guidelines for the future. A review of progress to date summarized the preliminary objectives and general results of Project Plato which employed the ILLIAC computer. Plato I was a single-student system, and Plato II, a two- student system. Plato III is under development as a multiple-student system which will employ a large-scale general-purpose 1604 computer. An analysis of student response rates, based on 50,000 student requests, indicates that commercially available large scale general-purpose computers could teach as many as 1000 students simultaneously, using a Plato II-type teaching logic and still be busy only about one third of the time.

    Many improvements and changes are contemplated for a Plato III program based on student recommendations and observations of their behavior. The additions under consideration for Plato III are supplementary material for clarification of various points, capability of complex judging functions, error-detecting supplementary routines, computer monitoring of student's performance.

    The authors attempted to justify their major theses that a large-scale general-purpose computer-based system has the capability necessary for sophisticated teaching techniques, and that computer-based teaching systems are economically feasible for large numbers of students. The material presented is straightforward, well-organized and realistically modest in view of the experimental status of concurrent "student-questions machine-response" control systems.


          in ACM Computing Reviews 4(03) May-June 1963 view details
  • Bitzer, D.L. & P. Braunfeld, "A computer-controlled teaching system (PLATO)" New Media in Higher Education, ed. by Brown and Thornton; National Education Association, Washington, D.C., 108-110 (1963). view details
          in ACM Computing Reviews 4(03) May-June 1963 view details
  • Bitzer, D.L. & J.A. Easley, Jr., "PLATO: A computer-controlled teaching system" pp89-103 view details
          in Sass, M. and W. Wilkinson, eds. Computer Augmentation of Human Reasoning Spartan Books, Washington, D.C., 1965 view details
  • Bitzer, D.L., "The PLATO teaching system," Automated Education Letters, 1(2). 13-15 (Nov 1965). view details
          in Sass, M. and W. Wilkinson, eds. Computer Augmentation of Human Reasoning Spartan Books, Washington, D.C., 1965 view details
  • Bitzer, D.L., E.R. Lyman & J.A. Easley, Jr., "The uses of PLATO: A computer-controlled teaching system," Audiovisual Instruction, 11(1), 16-21 (1966). view details
          in Sass, M. and W. Wilkinson, eds. Computer Augmentation of Human Reasoning Spartan Books, Washington, D.C., 1965 view details
  • Bitzer, D.L., B.L., Hicks. R.L. Johnson & E.R. Lyman, "The PLATO system; current research and developments" view details
          in Sass, M. and W. Wilkinson, eds. Computer Augmentation of Human Reasoning Spartan Books, Washington, D.C., 1965 view details
  • Bitzer, D.L. & D. Skaperdas, "Plato IV: An economically viable large scale computer-based education system," pp351-356 view details
          in Proceedings of the National Electronics Conference, Dec. 9-11, 1968, Chicago, IL, view details
  • Avner, R. A.; and Tenczar, Paul "The TUTOR manual" Office of Education, (DHEW), Washington, DC March 1970 view details
          in Proceedings of the National Electronics Conference, Dec. 9-11, 1968, Chicago, IL, view details
  • Bitzer, Donald L. et al "The Plato system and science education" Paper presented at the Conference in Computers, Illinois Institute of Tec nology, Chicago, III. , Aug. 20, 1970 view details Abstract: Examples of the performance of the PLATO III computer-assisted instruction system in science and engineering education are given in this report.

          in Proceedings of the National Electronics Conference, Dec. 9-11, 1968, Chicago, IL, view details
  • Bitzer, D.L. & R.L. Johnson, "Plato. a computer-based system used in the engineering of education" view details
          in Proceedings of the IEEE 59(6) 1971 view details
  • Stifle, Jack "The PLATO IV Architecture" Office of Edueation (DHEW), Washington, D.C., April 1971 view details Abstract: The hardware used in the PLATO IV computer assisted instruction system is discussed in this paper.
          in Proceedings of the IEEE 59(6) 1971 view details
  • Stock, Karl F. "A listing of some programming languages and their users" in RZ-Informationen. Graz: Rechenzentrum Graz 1971 192 view details Abstract: 321 Programmiersprachen mit Angabe der Computer-Hersteller, auf deren Anlagen die entsprechenden Sprachen verwendet werden kennen. Register der 74 Computer-Firmen; Reihenfolge der Programmiersprachen nach der Anzahl der Herstellerfirmen, auf deren Anlagen die Sprache implementiert ist; Reihenfolge der Herstellerfirmen nach der Anzahl der verwendeten Programmiersprachen.

    [321 programming languages with indication of the computer manufacturers, on whose machinery the appropriate languages are used to know.  Register of the 74 computer companies;  Sequence of the programming languages after the number of manufacturing firms, on whose plants the language is implemented;  Sequence of the manufacturing firms after the number of used programming languages.]
          in Proceedings of the IEEE 59(6) 1971 view details
  • Sammet, Jean E. "Roster of Programming Languages for 1973" p147 view details Extract: Description
    A language for preparing computer-assisted instruction courses to nun under the Univ. Illinois PLATO System.

          in ACM Computing Reviews 15(04) April 1974 view details
  • Stock, Marylene and Stock, Karl F. "Bibliography of Programming Languages: Books, User Manuals and Articles from PLANKALKUL to PL/I" Verlag Dokumentation, Pullach/Munchen 1973 465 view details Abstract: PREFACE  AND  INTRODUCTION
    The exact number of all the programming languages still in use, and those which are no longer used, is unknown. Zemanek calls the abundance of programming languages and their many dialects a "language Babel". When a new programming language is developed, only its name is known at first and it takes a while before publications about it appear. For some languages, the only relevant literature stays inside the individual companies; some are reported on in papers and magazines; and only a few, such as ALGOL, BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, and PL/1, become known to a wider public through various text- and handbooks. The situation surrounding the application of these languages in many computer centers is a similar one.

    There are differing opinions on the concept "programming languages". What is called a programming language by some may be termed a program, a processor, or a generator by others. Since there are no sharp borderlines in the field of programming languages, works were considered here which deal with machine languages, assemblers, autocoders, syntax and compilers, processors and generators, as well as with general higher programming languages.

    The bibliography contains some 2,700 titles of books, magazines and essays for around 300 programming languages. However, as shown by the "Overview of Existing Programming Languages", there are more than 300 such languages. The "Overview" lists a total of 676 programming languages, but this is certainly incomplete. One author ' has already announced the "next 700 programming languages"; it is to be hoped the many users may be spared such a great variety for reasons of compatibility. The graphic representations (illustrations 1 & 2) show the development and proportion of the most widely-used programming languages, as measured by the number of publications listed here and by the number of computer manufacturers and software firms who have implemented the language in question. The illustrations show FORTRAN to be in the lead at the present time. PL/1 is advancing rapidly, although PL/1 compilers are not yet seen very often outside of IBM.

    Some experts believe PL/1 will replace even the widely-used languages such as FORTRAN, COBOL, and ALGOL.4) If this does occur, it will surely take some time - as shown by the chronological diagram (illustration 2) .

    It would be desirable from the user's point of view to reduce this language confusion down to the most advantageous languages. Those languages still maintained should incorporate the special facets and advantages of the otherwise superfluous languages. Obviously such demands are not in the interests of computer production firms, especially when one considers that a FORTRAN program can be executed on nearly all third-generation computers.

    The titles in this bibliography are organized alphabetically according to programming language, and within a language chronologically and again alphabetically within a given year. Preceding the first programming language in the alphabet, literature is listed on several languages, as are general papers on programming languages and on the theory of formal languages (AAA).
    As far as possible, the most of titles are based on autopsy. However, the bibliographical description of sone titles will not satisfy bibliography-documentation demands, since they are based on inaccurate information in various sources. Translation titles whose original titles could not be found through bibliographical research were not included. ' In view of the fact that nany libraries do not have the quoted papers, all magazine essays should have been listed with the volume, the year, issue number and the complete number of pages (e.g. pp. 721-783), so that interlibrary loans could take place with fast reader service. Unfortunately, these data were not always found.

    It is hoped that this bibliography will help the electronic data processing expert, and those who wish to select the appropriate programming language from the many available, to find a way through the language Babel.

    We wish to offer special thanks to Mr. Klaus G. Saur and the staff of Verlag Dokumentation for their publishing work.

    Graz / Austria, May, 1973
          in ACM Computing Reviews 15(04) April 1974 view details
  • Sherwood, B. A., "The TUTOR Language", PLATO Services Organization, Computer-Based Education Research Laboratory, Urbana, Ill., June, 1974. view details
          in ACM Computing Reviews 15(04) April 1974 view details
  • Bitzer, D.L., "PLATO, An adventure in learning with computer-based education," pp1-46 view details
          in Seventh Australian Computer Conference, Vol. 4, Australian Computer Society; Inc. 1976 view details
  • Sherwood, Bruce "The TUTOR Language", Control Data, 1977. view details
          in Seventh Australian Computer Conference, Vol. 4, Australian Computer Society; Inc. 1976 view details
  • Sammet, Jean E "Roster of programming languages for 1976-77" pp56-85 view details
          in SIGPLAN Notices 13(11) Nov 1978 view details
  • Kearsley, Greg "Authoring systems in computer based education" view details
          in [ACM] CACM 25(07) July 1982 view details
  • Bitzer, D.L. "The PLATO project at the University of Illinois," Engineering Education, 77, 175-180 (1986). view details
          in [ACM] CACM 25(07) July 1982 view details
  • Sherwood, B. A., and J, N, Sherwood, The CMU-Tutor Language, Preliminary Edition, Stipes Publishing Company (10 Chester Street, Champaign, Ill., 1986). view details
          in [ACM] CACM 25(07) July 1982 view details
  • Sherwood, J. N. CMU Tutor Reference Manual. Center for Design of Educational Computing, Carnegie-Mellon University (Pittsburgh, 1986). view details
          in [ACM] CACM 25(07) July 1982 view details
  • Hosie, P. and Jamieson, D. "Plenty of chaff - some wheat: Evaluating CBT authoring packages for industry and education" pp208-223 view details External link: Online copy at Murdoch University
          in Steele, J. and J. G. Hedberg (eds), Designing for Learning in Industry and Education, Proceedings of EdTech'88. Canberra: AJET Publications view details
  • Library of Congress Subject Headings S48 view details
          in Steele, J. and J. G. Hedberg (eds), Designing for Learning in Industry and Education, Proceedings of EdTech'88. Canberra: AJET Publications view details