Intelligent Tutoring Interoperability for the New Web M. Rosić, V.Glavinić * , S. Stankov Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Education, Split, Croatia * Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Zagreb, Croatia marko.rosic{stankov}.pmfst.hr * vlado.glavinic@fer.hr Abstract— Interoperability of systems based on knowledge is a very important element for reducing their development cost and enabling an easy-to-perform service enrichment. An important subclass of distant learning systems is represented by intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) that base their work on the simulation of the "real" teacher in the learning and teaching process. ITSs base their interoperability on interchange of domain knowledge, knowledge about learning and teaching process and knowledge about students. This paper describes a methodology for ensuring interoperability among DiSNeT, a distance learning system based on the intelligent tutoring paradigm, on knowledge presentation using distributed semantic networks and on using agents in the learning and teaching process, with other ITSs. I. II. A. INTRODUCTION Development trends of present day information infrastructure based systems show a strong emphasis on ensuring interoperability, i.e. "the ability of two or more systems or components to exchange information and to use the information that has been exchanged" [1]. Such an approach enables both service enrichment as well as reduction of development and maintenance costs for the interoperating systems. Information exchange can be thus made possible by declaring knowledge in a common information space as well as by developing environments that are capable to resolve data requests. Agents from different systems approach this knowledge in order to perform their assignments. It should be noted that ensuring interoperability implies not only information exchange but also information usage, what cannot be guaranteed without previously understanding information semantics. One of the features of the Semantic Web – the central constituent of the new Web generation – is enabling agents to understand semantics of data declared on the Web. Another feature of the new Web generation is enabling the design of systems having a service-oriented architecture, i.e. systems relying on Web services, which on the other hand enables assigning agents to systems. These agents jointly perform tasks so that every part of a system (agent) offers well- defined services to the other parts (agents). Consequences of both Semantic Web introduction and of service- oriented architecture imposition encompass semantically based browsing of Web published document contents, improved usage of Web based systems as well as better systems interoperability. In this way the typical process of task solving augments into a value-adding chain where information is forwarded from one agent to another. One in series of increasingly relevant classes of information infrastructure based systems is certainly that of distance learning systems, paving the way to e-learning service offering. These systems provide remote users a certain combination of services like teaching matter presentation, knowledge examination, recommendations for further work and collaborative learning, all upon a variety of interaction choices (e.g. student-student, student-teacher, student-educational institution). The most important features of a distance learning systems environment include: distribution of data and processes execution, hypermedia orientation, dynamic system life cycle, open environment, diversity of processing platforms, variety of data presentation methods and storage and heterogeneity of users. An important subclass of distant learning systems is represented by intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) that base their work on the simulation of the "real" teacher in the learning and teaching process. As with every software system, the development of a distant learning system is an iterative process that can be represented by a suitable life cycle. On the other hand ITS development demands care to be used to specific elements that other distance learning systems do not have and is an expensive process securing the involvement of numerous experts from diverse fields like computer science, learning methodology as well as domain knowledge to be taught/learned. However, by enabling ITSs' interoperability reduction in development expenses can be achieved. ITS interoperability can certainly be enabled by networking their domain knowledge bases and/or sharing knowledge in a common information space. NEW WEB GENERATION Semantic Web The Semantic Web is intended to impose structure to the meaningful content of Web pages, thus creating an environment where mobile agents roaming from page to page can readily carry out sophisticated tasks on behalf of their users. Hence it is but an extension of the current Web, in which information is given a well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation [2]. Defining ontologies on the Web enables introduction of content that is understandable to agents on the Web.