Jorge Cordero

Basic Features of a Reflective Middleware for Intelligent Learning Environment in the Cloud (IECL)

In this paper is proposed an architecture of a Reflective Middleware, which aims to manage an Intelligent Environment of Learning based in cloud learning, which is modeled using a Multiagent system. The Middleware is able to monitor the environment consisting of physical and virtual objects, intelligent or not, based on the context. The middleware manages educational services in the cloud to enhance the learning experience of students, either collaboratively or individually.

Cloud Computing in Smart Educational Environments: Application in Learning Analytics as Service

In this paper, we present an extension of a Middleware for Smart Educational Environments based in agents, using the paradigm of Cloud Computing. In that sense, we detail the Middleware components, which enable the process of management of the Cloud Computing. We also present the utilization of this Middleware to provide services on the cloud about task of Learning Analytics that allow processing of data of students and learning environments, to understand and optimize the learning processes.

A business intelligence model for online tutoring process

This work aims to implement business intelligence strategies in an educational institution based on the distance education, particularly in the online tutoring process. In this paper we propose to use the business intelligence paradigm to analyze the online tutoring process, based on the data collected on the interactions of students and teachers in a virtual learning environment, and the results recorded in the institutional academic system of evaluations. This analysis should answer the following questions: 1) Can we define a model of online tutoring that can adapt to each student profile? 2) Can we predict the success of an online tutoring process for a course and a student given? To this purpose, this paper presents three aspects: characterize and determine the key elements in an online tutoring process, build a descriptive model of the online tutoring process, and build a predictive model of the success of the online tutoring process. The models to be defined will be based on data mining techniques, and will be obtained from the current data stored in transactional databases of the University. This data is preprocessed with ETL techniques to build a multidimensional model, and the key elements are obtained through operations OLAP.

Learning analytics tasks as services in smart classrooms

Abstract A smart classroom integrates the different components in a traditional classroom, by using different technologies as artificial intelligence, ubiquitous, and cloud paradigms, among others, in order to improve the learning process. On the other hand, the learning analytics tasks are a set of tools that can be used to collect and analyze the data accumulated in a smart classroom. In this paper, we propose the definition of the learning analytics tasks as services, which can be invoked by the components of a smart classroom. We describe how to combine the cloud and multi-agent paradigms in a smart classroom, in order to provide academic services to the intelligent and non-intelligent agents in the smart classroom, to adapt and respond to the teaching and learning requirements of students. Additionally, we define a set of learning analytics tasks as services, which defines a knowledge feedback loop for the smart classroom, in order to improve the learning process in it, and we explain how they can be invoked and consumed by the agents in a smart classroom.

A General Framework for Learning Analytic in a Smart Classroom

In this paper, we propose the utilization of the “Learning Analytics” paradigm in a Smart Classroom, a classroom that integrates artificial intelligence technology on the educational process. Learning Analytics can extract knowledge from the Smart Classroom platform, to better understand students and his/her learning processes. In this way, a Smart Classroom can understand and optimize the learning process and the teaching environments proposed. The smart classroom can adapt its components to improve students’ performance, among other aspects. Particularly, this paper proposes a framework about how the Learning Analytics paradigm can be used in a Smart Classroom, in order to provide knowledge about the activities taking place within it. The framework is defined like a closed cycle of Learning Analytics tasks, which generate metrics used like feedback to optimize the pedagogical model proposed by the smart Classroom. The metrics evaluate the learning process and pedagogical practice provided by the smart Classroom. So, our main contribution is about how the Learning Analytics paradigm can be used in a Smart Classroom in order to improve the students’ performance.

Specification of a Smart Classroom Based on Agent Communities

For the development of distributed applications, it is required to define a formalization of the process of implementation. Particularly, we are interested in one type of Ambient Intelligence (AmI), the Smart Classroom. In this paper we propose the implementation of a Smart Classroom, called SaCI, using the concept of communities of agents. With this concept, we carry out the definition and implementation of sets of agents according to their roles, functionalities, characteristics, among others, in SaCI. Each community can be designed and implemented independently and later be integrated in SaCI. In this paper we present this approach and its implementation in SaCI.

Towards a Fuzzy Cognitive Map for Opinion Mining

Abstract In this paper, we propose a Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) to opinion mining, with special attention to media influence on public opinion. Particularly, in this paper, we describe the FCM, the concepts and relationships among them. Our opinion mining model is based on a multilevel FCM, to distribute the concepts according to the aspects that describe the elements conforming public opinion, which are: social, technological and biological. We carry out preliminary tests, and the results are very encouraging.

Specification of the Autonomic Cycles of Learning Analytic Tasks for a Smart Classroom

In this article, we propose the concept of “Autonomic Cycle Of Learning Analysis Tasks” (ACOLAT), which defines a set of tasks of learning analysis, whose objective is to improve the learning process. The data analysis has become a fundamental area for the knowledge discovery from data extracted from different sources. In the autonomic cycle, each learning analysis task interacts with each other and has different roles: Some of them must observe the learning process, others must analyze and interpret what happens in it, and finally, others make decisions in order to improve the learning process. In this article, we study the application of the autonomic cycle in a smart classroom, which is composed of a set of intelligent components of hardware (e.g., smart board) and software (e.g., virtual learning environments), which must exploit the knowledge generated by the ACOLAT to improve the learning process in the smart classroom. Moreover, we present the set of ACOLATs present in a smart classroom and the implementation of some of them.

Different Intelligent Approaches for Modeling the Style of Car Driving.

In this paper, we propose a hierarchical pattern of the style of driving, which is composed of three levels, one to recognize the emotional state, other to recognize the state of the driver, and finally, the last one corresponds to the style of driving. Each level is defined by different types of descriptors, which are perceived in different multi-modal ways (sound, vision, etc.). Additionally, we analyze three techniques to recognize the style of driving, using our hierarchical pattern, one based on fuzzy logic, another based on chronicles (a temporal logic paradigm), and another based on an algorithm that models the functioning of the human neocortex, exploiting the idea of recursivity and learning in the recognition process. We compare the techniques considering the dynamic context where a car driver operates.

Competences as Services in the Autonomic Cycles of Learning Analytic Tasks for a Smart Classroom

Learning Analytic is a useful tool in the context of the learning process, in order to improve the educational environment. In previous works, we have proposed autonomic cycles of learning Analytic tasks, in order to improve the learning process in smart classrooms. One aspect to be considered by the autonomic cycles is their adaptability to the formation of competences, assuming that a student has competences that must be strengthened during the learning process. In this paper, we propose the utilization of competences to guide the adaptation process of a learning environment. Particularly, we propose the extensions of the autonomic cycles for smart classrooms, using the idea of competences. In this case, we define the competences as a service, to help the autonomic cycles in their processes of adaptation.