This paper describes an approach to the design of online help for programming tasks and modelling tasks, based on a theoretical framework of problem solving and learning. The framework leads to several design principles which are important to the problem of when and how to supply help information to a learner who is constructing a solution to a given problem. We will describe two example domains where we apply these design principles: The ABSYNT problem solving monitor supports learners with help and proposals for functional programming. The PETRI-HELP system currently under development is intended to support the learning of modelling with Petri nets.

: PETRI-HELP supports novices in learning to model with conditionevent Petri nets. It is based on a theoretical framework recommending that a help system should offer help, let the learner use pre-knowledge, and support different problem solving levels. In PETRI-HELP the learner creates Petri nets for given tasks, test hypotheses about the solutions or fragments of them, and receive feedback, completions, and correction proposals. This help refers to Petri net places, transitions, and links. It does not yet support planning, i.e., creating an abstract solution idea and postponing implementation decisions, as recommended by the theory and by our empirical work. This paper describes an approach to support planning within PETRI-HELP. It is based on transformation rules (Olderog, 1991) for the systematical derivation of a Petri net from a specification composed of viewpoints of different agents. Applying this approach to PETRI-HELP will enable the learner to propose solution ideas, test hypotheses, and get help on an abstract "goal level".

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