Le projet de la recherche est de participer à l’intelligibilité des dispositifs d’interactions tuteur-apprenant afin de soutenir les processus d’appropriation de la technologie et d’apprentissage dans un contexte d’e-learning. Outre l’e-learning, l’analyse de la littérature se focalise donc sur trois champs théoriques : l’apprentissage, l’appropriation et le tutorat en ligne. Ceci nous amène à nous interroger sur les modalités d’interventions tutorales et leurs évolutions ainsi que sur la médiatisation du tuteur dans l’apprentissage des apprenants. Une étude de cas, réalisée dans une formation d’Aix-Marseille Université, nous permet d’identifier les éléments de réponses aux questionnements précédents. Les résultats montrent que le tuteur est principalement perçu dans un rôle d’accompagnement, et qu’il constitue le lien social entre le dispositif technologique et les apprenants. Au-delà de ces activités, nous avons relevé que le tuteur peut aussi occuper deux autres fonctions tutorales : celle de knowledge manager et celle de facilitateur de tutorat entre pairs. Nous suggérons ainsi qu’un objectif des dispositifs d’e-learning est de mettre en place un système tutoral laissant émerger et favorisant un certain degré d’auto-organisation entre apprenants. Notre recherche montre également que l’objectif de « rendre la technologie transparente » est atteint lorsque l’appropriation des technologies par les apprenants est favorisée dès la phase amont du processus d’enseignement. Pour conclure, alors qu’on craignait que l’e-learning ne se substitue aux enseignants, nous relevons que le rôle de ces derniers apparaît en évolution, laissant émerger celui du tuteur ! / The purpose of this research is to contribute to a deeper understanding of tutor-learner interactions within the framework of a supportive process of appropriation of technology and learning in the context of e-learning. In addition to e-learning, the literature review focuses on three theoretical fields: learning, appropriation, and e-tutoring. This leads us to question the modes of e-tutoring and their evolution; and the media coverage of the tutor in the learners’ process of learning. A case study, performed at Aix Marseille University, enables us to identify elements of responses to previous questions. The results show that the tutor is seen primarily in a supporting role, and that he may be the social link between the platform and the learners. Beyond these activities, we found that the e-tutors may also have two other e-tutoring functions: knowledge manager and facilitator of peer-tutoring. This allows us ultimately to suggest that a goal of e-learning systems is to set up an e-tutoring system, while leaving the emergence and fostering of self-organization to the learners themselves. Our research also shows that the goal of "making technology transparent" is reached when the acquisition of technology by students is initiated and promoted from the upstream phases of the teaching process. Finally, while there was a concern that e-learning replaces the need for teachers, we found that the role of the latter is reinforced, although still evolving: in other words, the role of the teacher changes; the e-tutor emerges! They become the critical link between electronics and learning, between " e " and " learning "!

<p>In this thesis a new concept called domain knowledge management for informationproviding dialogue systems is introduced. Domain knowledge management includes issues related to representation and use of domain knowledge as well as access of background information sources, issues that previously have been incorporated in dialogue management.</p><p>The work on domain knowledge management reported in this thesis can be divided in two parts. On a general theoretical level, knowledge sources and models used for dialogue management, including domain knowledge management, are studied and related to the capabilities they support. On a more practical level, domain knowledge management is examined in the contexts of a dialogue system framework and a specific instance of this framework, the ÖTRAF system. In this system domain knowledge management is implemented in a separate module, a Domain Knowledge Manager.</p><p>The use of a specialised Domain Knowledge Manager has a number of advantages. The first is that dialogue management becomes more focused as it only has to consider dialogue phenomena, while domain-specific reasoning is handled by the Domain Knowledge Manager. Secondly, porting of a system to new domains is facilitated since domain-related issues are separated out in specialised domain knowledge sources. The third advantage with a separate module for domain knowledge management is that domain knowledge sources can be easily modified, exchanged, and reused.</p> / Report code: LiU-Tek-Lic-2001:27.

In this thesis a new concept called domain knowledge management for informationproviding dialogue systems is introduced. Domain knowledge management includes issues related to representation and use of domain knowledge as well as access of background information sources, issues that previously have been incorporated in dialogue management. The work on domain knowledge management reported in this thesis can be divided in two parts. On a general theoretical level, knowledge sources and models used for dialogue management, including domain knowledge management, are studied and related to the capabilities they support. On a more practical level, domain knowledge management is examined in the contexts of a dialogue system framework and a specific instance of this framework, the ÖTRAF system. In this system domain knowledge management is implemented in a separate module, a Domain Knowledge Manager. The use of a specialised Domain Knowledge Manager has a number of advantages. The first is that dialogue management becomes more focused as it only has to consider dialogue phenomena, while domain-specific reasoning is handled by the Domain Knowledge Manager. Secondly, porting of a system to new domains is facilitated since domain-related issues are separated out in specialised domain knowledge sources. The third advantage with a separate module for domain knowledge management is that domain knowledge sources can be easily modified, exchanged, and reused. / <p>Report code: LiU-Tek-Lic-2001:27.</p>