Towards the Development of an Agent-based Model for Increased Access to Knowledge

The current education system in Kenya has several shortcomings such as lack of open-door opportunities for learners' to pursue further education towards lifelong learning. The National Education Sector Plan (NESP) 2015 points out that the main issues facing the education sector in Kenya which have remained barriers to full attainment of these desired goals. This paper adopts an exploratory study mainly focusing on common Learning Management Systems (LMS) with the aim of identifying their shortcomings and formulating a self-directed learning model to enrich e-learning environments as well as enhance access to knowledge and education. Despite the perceived benefits of common e-learning systems we found out that there are limitations such as limited information filtering mechanisms, low level interaction between learners and tutors and lack of effective profiling mechanisms of learners. Few LMS utilize the potential of agents to support e-learning environments and that answers why this paper explores the potential of agents to formulate a self-directed learning model to address the said challenges and enrich the e-learning environments. This will ensure provision of effective alternate pathways to education to meet the education needs of out-of-school youth and of adults whose formal education opportunities were cut short.