Personalizing learning programs with X-Learn, an XML-based, "user-device" adaptive multi-agent system

  • Authors:

  • Pasquale De Meo;Alfredo Garro;Giorgio Terracina;Domenico Ursino

  • Affiliations:

  • DIMET, Universití Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Via Graziella, Localití Feo di Vito, 89060 Reggio Calabria, Italy;DEIS, Universití della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy;Dipartimento di Matematica, Universití della Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy;DIMET, Universití Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Via Graziella, Localití Feo di Vito, 89060 Reggio Calabria, Italy

  • Venue:
  • Information Sciences: an International Journal
  • Year:
  • 2007

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Abstract

In this paper we present X-Learn, an XML-based, multi-agent system for supporting ''user-device'' adaptive e-learning, i.e. e-learning activities which take into account the profile, past behaviour, preferences and needs of users, as well as the characteristics of the devices they use for these activities. X-Learn is characterized by the following features: (i) it is highly subjective, since it handles quite a rich and detailed user profile that plays a key role during the learning activities; (ii) it is dynamic and flexible, i.e. it is capable of reacting to variations in user exigencies and objectives; (iii) it is device-adaptive, since it decides the learning objects to present to the user on the basis of the device he is currently using; (iv) it is generic, i.e. it is capable of operating in a large variety of learning contexts; (v) it is XML based, since it exploits many facilities of XML technology for handling and exchanging information related to e-learning activities. The paper also reports various experimental results, as well as a comparison between X-Learn and other related e-learning management systems already presented in the literature.