Contextualised mLearning service delivery through a multi-agent platform

A multi-agent-based platform, designed to incorporate mobile devices into educational practices, is presented in this paper. The platform builds on the InfoStation paradigm. Together with the rationale behind the multi-agent approach, the operations and interactions of agents with the platform's underlying data structures are discussed. Details on the contextualisation of delivered service content together with supporting mechanisms are also presented. This contextualisation function enables system adaptation in response to the varying operating environments inherent to this type of wireless access architecture, and to the service delivery modes dictated by, or matched to, the personal context of the user. The educational opportunities thereby created such as support for dispersed distance learning and enriched learning environments are discussed. Future directions for the development of this platform are also outlined.