To better understand our research, a brief introduction of ubiquitous learning and a multi-agent system is necessary
Ubiquitous Learning (U-Learning)
The development of ubiquitous learning can be better understood on a continuum that ranges from e-learning to u-learning. Electronic-learning (E-learning) originated approximated 40 years ago (Hiltz & Turoff, 1978; Eom & Arbaugh, 2011). We have now entered what may be a golden age of e-learning. The 13th survey tracking online education in the United States by the Babson Survey Research Group provides evidence to support the idea that e-learning has now become a mainstream delivery medium. It also indicates that distance education enrollments have increased continually at a greater rate (3.9%) than those of overall higher education (Allen, Seaman, Poulin, & Straut, 2016). However, the central defy is to properly comprehend learners’ strengths, examine their performance, and construct a strategy for future development as per the requirements of the students (Pabreja, K., 2017).
The essence of e-learning is the use of web-based learning management systems (LMS), including contents management systems, in the learning process to overcome geographical, temporal, and psychological distances between the instructor and students.
With the increasing use of mobile devices (MD) in e-learning, the distinctions between e-learning and m-learning have become blurred. For the purpose of this study, m-learning is defined as e-learning enhanced with mobile tools and mobile communication (Chuang, 2009) with expanded wireless devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. This is in addition to LMS and other information technology components. A wide range of mobile technologies are available: personal vs. shared, and portable vs. static (Chuang, 2009). In our opinion, there may be no critical conceptual distinction in terms of goals, assumptions, and critical success factors (Eom, Ashill, & Wen, 2006; Eom & Ashill, 2016; 2018) that need to be managed. Nevertheless, the use of mobile devices in the distance learning process has added a new functionality, context-awareness that creates a new learning environment.