Learning from multiple collaborating intelligent tutors: an agent-based approach
Κωνσταντίνος Σολωμός, Nikolaos M. Avouris · 2000
This paper describes an open distributed multi-agent tutoring system (MATS) and discusses issues related with learning in such open environments. MATS is a prototype that models a "one student - many teachers" learning situation. Each MATS agent represents a tutor, capable of teaching a distinct subject. All MATS tutors are also capable of collaborating with each-other for solving learning difficulties that their students may have. In order to build this prototype, the following parts of the architecture had to be defined: an adequate agent architecture and multi-agent platform, a knowledge interchange language suitable for learning tasks and a general ontology of learning environments as a foundation for knowledge sharing. MATS can be used for supporting collaboration of heterogeneous learning objects and for this reason is an interesting paradigm of learning, in the rapidly expanding open distributed world of knowledge, surrounding us. The challenges that the learners face when participating in such environment are also discussed in the last part of the paper where the learners' roles in the MATS context are described.