A Multi-Agent Tool using the .NET Framework

E-learning has recently become one of the most popular teaching methods. One of its modes is the blended learning paradigm, where learners can read teaching materials asynchronously from a teaching website and collaborate with their peers, while providing necessary face-to-face explanation, discussion, and physical operation in the classroom. This research project focuses on the use of intelligent agents in the sphere of e-learning education with the help of collaborative learning. Intelligent agents, or e-assistants, could make the learning dynamic to suit the needs of the individual user. Intelligent Agents can capture user’s preferences in specific areas; his/her level of knowledge and the learning style and accordingly recommend the best matching helpers for collaboration.

This research project aims to introduce a Multi-Agent System for Collaborative E-learning (MASCE). The main purpose of MASCE is to assist the teaching and learning process and also to encourage collaborative learning among peers. Considering the blended learning environment, the system grants students access to available downloadable or interactive educational web content beyond the classroom. The MASCE objective is to incorporate the intelligence of the multi-agent system (MAS) in a way that enables it to actively and intelligently support the educational processes, where multiple agents can interact to exchange information so that students may collaborate on how best to gain knowledge.

The proposed MAS system considers two types of users; namely students and instructors; each of these users has a specialized agent that addresses their individual nature. The student agent manages the student's personal profile and also tracks the student actions during the learning process. On the other hand, the instructor agent provides teaching materials, assesses the progress and participation of different students through quizzes, and manages the progress of the course. Over and above, this project proposes the assistant agent, as an intermediate component within the system. The assistant agent plays a central role in “match-making” and “community-building” to help increase collaboration between peers; it shall also alert the instructor if intervention is required.

The support of CMIC includes a research grant supporting graduate students working in this domain. In addition, CMIC presented a gift in the form of a lab to support collaborative e-learning. The lab is equipped with 25 state-of-the-art PCs and server machines including Microsoft technologies that facilitate collaboration. This includes Microsoft SharePoint Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Live Communication Server, Active Directory Server and Microsoft SQL Server.

Key Investigators
Prof. Hani Mahdi, Professor of Computer Engineering, Computers and Systems Engineering Department
Sally Attia, Teaching Assistant, Systems Engineering Department

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