Natural language processing in systems with computer-aided knowledge testing

In the sphere of distant learning the computer-aided knowledge testing (CAKT) is widely used. The state of affairs in the field of CAKT systems is analyzed in the report. It is shown that widespread "elective" tests have a number of essential disadvantages. The authors offer the approach permitting to use natural language processing as one of major CAKT components. The main idea of the approach consists in high-tech matching a student's answer with the answer template given by the instructor. In addition, text information obtained from electronic textbooks and books on the course and transformed into a semantic network can be used when evaluating. Necessary methods and algorithms were designed. The authors also offered software implementing the methods developed. This software as a subsystem can be built into the electronic textbooks, electronic courses and other CAKT systems. The results obtained allow to believe in appropriateness of the approach for actual usage.