A Cognitive Tutor is based on a rule-based cognitive model of student problem-solving knowledge (modeled in Jess). This cognitive model is commonly applicable to various problems in the same domain. You create a cognitive model by writing production rules that characterize the variety of strategies and misconceptions students may acquire. (Cognitive Tutors are sometimes are also called "Production Rule Tutors", a reference to the production rules you create.)

During problem solving, the Cognitive Tutor follows the student in a process called model tracing. In model tracing, the tutoring system maintains a model of problem solving that is 'traced' (compared) against the student's actions. Feedback during problem-solving is given based on current state of the model (also called working memory) and the rules that represent student cognition and action.

By default, the following tools are shown when the Cognitive Tutor (Jess) type is selected:

These tools are explained in detail in the section Cognitive Tutor (Jess) Tools.