Title: Towards a generic architecture for cooperative learning environments

Authors: George Vouros

Addresses: Department of Information and Communication Systems, University of the Aegean, Karlovassi, Samos, Greece

Abstract: To adapt information effectively to instructional contexts, we need active learning environments that can reason about the domain, the user|s mental state and information needs and the general context of information use, as well as about strategies and methods for designing effective information presentations using multiple media. The paper proposes a generic multi-agent architecture for cooperative multimedia pedagogues| intelligent learning environments that help users to achieve their information needs. The aim is to support natural communication and effective collaboration between people and systems. Natural communication requires the integration of different modalities for information presentation and their effective use for achieving tutorial goals in various instructional contexts. Effective collaboration requires systems to work jointly with users towards achieving their information needs. Agents that make up the proposed architecture collaborate with users and between themselves to complete a partial shared plan for achieving users| information needs, as well as a partial shared information presentation plan for achieving tutorial goals.

Keywords: intelligent agent; cooperative planning; rhetorical structure theory; learning environments; intelligent multimedia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2002.000439

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2002 Vol.12 No.1/2/3/4, pp.331-347

Published online: 16 Jul 2003 *

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