Using semantics in INES, an Intelligent Educational System

INES (INtelligent Educational System) is a functional prototype of an online learning platform, which combines three essential capabilities related to e-learning activities. These capabilities are those related to Learning Management Systems, Learning Content Management Systems, and Intelligent Tutoring Systems. To carry out all these functionalities, our system, as a whole, comprises a set of different tools and technologies, as follows: an intelligent chatterbot which is able to communicate with students in natural language, an intelligent agent based on BDI (Believes, Desires, Intentions) technology which acts as the brain of the system, an inference engine based on JESS (a rule engine for the Java platform), and an ontology. At the present paper we will focus on this ontology, which is used in the platform to provide semantic support for system users (administrators, teachers, and students), their activities, and the learning contents. We will specifically address the architecture and performance of the ontology, and their contribution to INES.