Martin Beer (1), Sharon Green (2), Samia Nefti (1) Andrew Sixsmith (3) & Janice Whatley (4)

1. The Provision of Education & Training for Health Care Professionals Through the Medium of the Internet Martin Beer (1), Sharon Green (2), Samia Nefti (1) Andrew Sixsmith (3) & Janice Whatley (4) Depts. of Computer Science (1), Occupational Therapy (2), and Primary Care (3), University of Liverpool, UK Information Systems Institute, University of Salford, UK (4) m.d.beer@csc.liv.ac.uk

2. Introduction • The OTIS System • Occupational Therapy Internet School • Support for Problem-Based Learning • The System as implemented • Using Agents for student support • Guardian Agent • Conclusions

3. The OTIS System • Innovative features of the OTIS environment are: • The course portfolio is built using a problem-solving approach. • Students are required to consider case studies and develop an appropriate solution through research and discussion within the group. • The course materials have been developed by international teams to meet educational and training requirements in their own countries and throughout Europe. • Students are required to work in groups with members from the various participating Universities • broadening their experience in the process • providing evidence of European collaboration in their assignments. • Each University will award 3 ECTS credits to students it registers and assesses. • These credit points are fully exchangeable.

4. Benefits of Problem-Based Learning • Some of the recognised benefits are: • a deeper approach to learning is encouraged; not merely the learning of taught facts, memorised in order to pass an examination • integration of knowledge is encouraged, so that the whole patient in his environment is studied, rather than a list of signs and symptoms • essential core skills are fostered, such as problem solving, communication and team working • The starting point for learning   "should be a problem, a query or puzzle that the learner wishes to solve"

5. Using the System Index Area Navigation Map Communication Area Message Box Control Buttons Information Area

6. The OTIS College • Navigation is by way of the maps • Each room has its own map • There is a standard exit back to the main area • Course materials are separated into their own rooms • Students can see and communicate with others working on the same modules • Tutors can more effectively monitor activity

7. OTIS Room Map Admin Area Patient Consulting Area Student Work Area Quiet Room Course Materials Supplementary Reading Library Web Links Lecture Rooms Meeting Rooms Exhibition Area Student Cafe Staff Room Help Desk

8. Group Support Agent • Problem-based learning is inherently a group approach • The groups require effective support • This can be very tutor-intensive • We have defined a Group Support Agent (GSA) to act as an intelligent helper to the group • Interacts with the other GSAs of the group to identify potential problems and makes suggestions to avoid them • Is a ‘disembodied’ support agent

9. Agent Communication Architecture

10. Current Status • The OTIS world is implemented • Has been used for one pilot this year • Main pilot starts in January 2001 • A multi-room model has been developed that can be used for a range of courses • The rooms can be customised if necessary • General facilities that can be used for all courses are provided for: • Organising meetings • Discussing in groups (Lecture theatres) • Managing groups • Staff & Student Discussion Areas • Prototype Guardian Agent exists • Implemented in Prolog • Being used for validation experiments • Then needs to be integrated into OTIS

11. Conclusions • The problem-based approach can be used for internet learning • Students require even more support & assistance when learning at a distance than in College • This can prove extremely expensive • Traditional universities do not have cost models that support this • Agent Technology can help considerably • The Geographic Model for the Internet School has been found highly effective & popular • Can be used to define a whole family of support agents with different capabilities

12. Further Information • Visit the Project web Site http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~otis/ • Contact the project team M.D.Beer@csc.liv.ac.uk G.M.Armitt@csc.liv.ac.uk

13. Workshop on Agents & Internet Learning • We are proposing to organise a workshop at Agents 2001 in Montreal in June 2001 • Call for Papers to be issued in January • Closing date for submissions • 28th March 2001 • Further Information (and final CFP) • Contact Janice Whatley (J.E.Whatley@salford.ac.uk) or me.