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PHelpS

Product or Programme · All products and programmes
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 design), q1 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

PHelpS is a peer-help support system developed by Vassileva et al. that uses inspectable task-based user models to match workplace employees seeking help with available, willing, and capable peer helpers.

Components

  • PHelpS peer help system matching ready, willing and able helpers via inspectable user models: PHelpS helped Correctional Service Canada workers find peer helpers when stuck while using the OMS database. It relied on two minimalist AI methodologies: a knowledge representation scheme capturing authentic tasks at many levels of detail, and user models overlaying task hierarchies recording which tasks each worker had carried out and how well. The system recommended peers who were "ready (were online at the time of the help request), willing (were logged into PHelpS and had indicated availability to help), and able (who knew how to accomplish that step and had proved able to help others in the past)". Help seekers and helpers could inspect user models and choose or refuse help, an early use of open learner modelling. (Vassileva et al. (2015))

Claims

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Key Sources

  • Vassileva, J., McCalla, G. I., & Greer, J. E. (2015). From Small Seeds Grow Fruitful Trees: How the PHelpS Peer Help System Stimulated a Diverse and Innovative Research Agenda over 15 Years. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-015-0073-9
Page metadata
Field Value
type product
id phelps
title PHelpS
description PHelpS is a peer-help support system developed by Vassileva et al.
status review
product_kind software
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-27
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