Using Multiagent Intelligence to Support Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning

Abstract

This chapter presents an innovative multiagent system to support synchronous and asynchronous cooperative learning both in the real classrooms and in distance education. The system, called I-MINDS, consists of a group of intelligent agents. A teacher agent monitors the student activities and helps the teacher manage and better adapt to the class. A student agent, on the other hand, interacts with the teacher agent and other student agents to support cooperative learning activities behind the scene for a student. Two I-MINDS innovations are (a) agent-federated real-time “buddy group” formation and refinement, and (b) automated ranking of questions and responses. These two functionalities are supported by a suite of knowledge bases, applied to data that are either collected and derived from the agent-mediated activities, or compiled directly from online student surveys. The knowledge bases include instructional keywords and rules for profiling student and scoring questions. We have tested our I-MINDS prototype within a pilot study. In this pilot study, we had two groups: control and I-MINDS. Each group was given two lectures by the same instructor on GIS topics. The result was very promising as were comments from the instructor and the subjects in the I-MINDS group related to their comfort level in using the tool.