A project to accommodate the large and increasing enrollment in introductory computer science courses by automating them with a subsystem for computer science instruction on the PLATO IV Computer-Based Education system at the University of Illinois was started. The subsystem was intended to be used for supplementary instruction at the University of Illinois, but was also designed to be usable as a completely self-contained system for introductory computer science education for remote sites. The key components of the system are: a library of lessons, covering several programing languages, computing techniques, and application areas; a completely self-contained interactive program system for the preparation, execution, and debugging of programs written by students in any of the languages covered by the lessons; a conversational advice-giving and information retrieval system to guide the student through the library of lessons, based on his goals and past performance; and a communication system that allows a student to contact a human tutor.

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