Intelligent Learning Management Systems: Definition, Features and Measurement of Intelligence

1. Introduction

When analyzing an Intelligent Learning Management System (iLMS), the most crucial issue is to be sure that there is a common understanding and definition of such a system. Since the first proposed Intelligent Learning Management System, there is not a clear definition of what an Intelligent Learning Management System would be, and what the main difference between and iLMS and Learning Management System is. Many researchers or education technology companies have named their Learning Management Systems “Intelligent” but determining how smart these systems are, and which features make them smart is the main aim of this contribution.

This paper aims to propose a prevalent and thorough definition of an Intelligent Learning Management System based on the definition and understanding of experts in e-learning, learning technologies and Internet technologies. Furthermore, other than a commonly accepted notion knowing its main features and tools is also crucial. All different Intelligent Learning Management Systems currently available were studied, and forty-one tools and features were distinguished within the research survey while some of them were just the same in function but have different names. Among them, experts identified thirteen most important features and tools as the key criteria, which every Intelligent Learning Management System should be equipped with. Once those criteria were defined, we asked the experts of Intelligent Learning Management System, Education Technology and Internet Technology to compare those measurements by a nine-point ratio measurement scale developed by Saaty (2008). Finally, a fuzzy model was proposed to measure the degree of intelligence of any Intelligent Learning Management System based on multi criteria decision making (MCDM). The paper proposed that by following this model, which is a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP), prospective clients would be able to rank their choices and measure their intelligence. Saaty (2008) defines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as “a theory of measurement through pairwise comparisons and relies on the judgments of experts to derive priority scales. It is these scales that measure intangibles in relative terms.”

In the following sections, we will review the current proposed Intelligent Learning Management Systems and based on experts’ opinions a new definition will be proposed. Finally, the steps of designing a fuzzy model to measure the intelligence of Learning Management System will be explained.