Architecture of intellectual agent-oriented educational complex for training of technical specialists

Abstract

The purpose of the research, presented in this paper is the development, implementation and testing in the educational process of multi-level architecture of intelligent agent-oriented educational complex for training of technical specialists. Intellectualization of e-learning is one of the priority directions in the implementation of the competence approach to learning in higher education. At the same time, the theory and practice of design of agent-oriented (multi-agent) systems is a promising direction of introduction of artificial intelligence methods in the field of e-learning, recognized in the scientific community. In the process of the research, a multi-level architecture of the intelligent agent-oriented educational complex was developed, justified and mainly implemented, which combines flexibility, openness and good scalability. It is shown that the stated quality indicators can be achieved through an organic combination of multi-agent and service-oriented approaches to the design of software products for educational purposes. The architectural solution has detailed levels of services and levels of intelligent agents, based on them. Each of the declared levels of the system is relatively independent, can be developed (tested) independently, and the methods of interaction between the levels are unified. The paper considers the purpose of the components that make up each of the architectural levels, presents some key aspects of the implementation of this architecture and the results of pedagogical experiments on adaptive learning of students through intelligent agent-oriented learning complex. By now, on the basis of the presented architecture an integrated intellectual learning environment is formed, filled with educational content, which is tested in the educational process of the Vologda State University in the training of bachelors and masters of several areas, related to information technology. At the same time, the proposed architectural solutions have proved their viability, and the educational environment, formed on their basis is attractive for students and has a positive impact on the overall effectiveness of the process of training of specialists in technical field, which is confirmed not only by the results of pedagogical diagnostics, but also by surveys of employers. In general, the results of the research show that the use of agent-oriented and service-based approaches in the process of formation of the educational environment of the University grants convenient mechanisms for the introduction of artificial intelligence methods in the field of e-learning, providing full support for competence-oriented technologies for training of technical specialists. The flexible, open and scalable educational environment, formed in the process of research is in continuous development, constantly acquiring new opportunities to improve the quality of training of students in technical areas.