A Web services approach to learning path composition

The increasing availability of open and large e-learning repositories and the advent of distributed technologies such as Web services have led to a renewed interest in distributed e-learning. Composition rather than aggregation is seen as a way forward in the design and implementation of learning paths. In this paper, a framework for courseware composition is presented in terms of workflow management and semantic Web technologies. In order to cater for the needs of learners and to provide flexible learning content, a compositional platform, BPEL4WS, is enhanced by the introduction of virtual Web services, which are initially unbound. The resolution of these services is performed by agents, through search, discovery and late binding. This approach has the advantage that it overcomes some of the limitations of BPEL4WS and that it decouples the design of learning paths from the delivery of learning content. It also enhances adaptivity in e-learning provision.