Description:
This communication proposes a synthesis on the topic of modeling tutoring knowledge in intelligent tutoring systems. Its origins and challenges are exposed, as well as research results and tendencies. Issues of characterizing tutoring, defining it, identifying sources of knowledge, and modeling techniques are presented and discussed. A description of tutoring functions and variables is proposed, as well as hypotheses that have been formulated for design, implementation and evaluation of intelligent tutoring systems. The issue of adaptation, essential for intelligent tutoring systems, is privileged.