E-learning by experience: how CBR can help

The integration of e-learning platforms with Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) leads to distance learning systems where real occurrences are available to illustrate theory with practice. However, CBR systems may be completely different from each other due to their architecture, development platform, case description, etc. So, a way of querying and integrating different case sources is required. Besides that, examples must match theoretical topics, student profile and, if possible, be susceptible of observation in virtual reality environments. The paper describes some aspects of these problems and presents the general architecture of MKM - Maintenance Knowledge Manager - an e-learning and CBR based system devoted to the maintenance field.