Analysis and design of an agent-based intelligent tutoring system for e-learning within Irish Universities

We present an agent-based approach, for the design and implementation of a Web-based learning environment for use within the Computer Science Department of University College Dublin (UCD). The design is modular consisting of intelligent software entities (intelligent agents-IA), a core intelligent tutoring system (ITS), presentation engine and various information feeder modules. CORBA is used as the middleware technology to link the modules together and allow independent development and use of separate or third party tools. Sub-components are built as enterprise Java beans (EJB) with all in house developed software being Java based. The ITS is used in conjunction with the existing lecturing system within the college and not as a stand alone system.