An Architecture for Learning Environments Based on the Lightweight Integration of Intelligent Agents

The main objectives of this chapter are to provide a review of multi-agent platforms for learning environments, to discuss the use of lightweight integration technologies in learning management systems, and to outline the theoretical framework for a multi-agent based platform for course provisioning. The proposed framework places a message switching system at the center of the architecture, providing an effective yet lightweight mechanism for agent communications. The chapter also provides two practical examples of the implementation of lightweight integration technologies for course management system development. The examples show the feasibility of implementing the proposed lightweight architecture, showing how the agent based elements could be added to existing learning management systems.