Towards active learning management systems

The paper describes new trends in learning and ways to support them using information technology. It makes a distinction between active and passive learning management systems (LMS). It defines passive LMS as those whose learning plans are clearly defined by instructors, and where students follow these learning plans precisely. Active LMS on the other hand can adapt to learner defined goals by using learning plans adapted to learner goals. A number of services must be provided by active LMS. These include services to define learning plans and actively construct workspaces. Services to manage such workspaces are also needed. Software agents are proposed as one way to provide such services and some such agents are described.