The Software Engineering was created as an attempt to solve the problems faced in the software development and, since then, it has been increasingly progressing, generating new methodologies, languages, paradigms, methods, techniques and tools. The necessity of appropriation of knowledge on these new tools on the part of the developers of software is real. In this context, the use of computer networks in the teaching-learning process has become present in alternative models of education, such as distance and open education where the objective is speeding the appropriation of knowledge. In this context, the Internet comes, as a favorable element to one of these alternatives: the distance education.

The majority of the teaching-learning systems at a distance facilitates the communication, the distribution and the exchange of information among learners and mediators. However, courses as Software Engineering request more than the resources already existent.

The choice for the course of Engineering of Software in this project was due to the fact that this discipline involves all the categories of constructions cited by Resnick (Resnick, 1996). The environment aims at involving and integrating pupils, professors, researchers and professionals operating in the market. The environment also leaves room for the reintegration of retired professionals.

This article explores the necessary requirements for an environment of continuous education in Software Engineering in the Internet following a principle that discusses the construction (and not the information) as the base for the design and development of this environment. The term construction is used by Resnick (Resnick, 1996) who presents the use of networks of computers not only as a channel for information distribution, but mainly as a way to supply the students with new ways to learn in a community. To fulfill these requirements, we discuss the proposal of a multiagent architecture, using a methodology specially developed for the analysis and design of systems based on agents (Wooldridge et al, 1999), where the construction of systems is compared with a process of "organizational design".
 

References

(Resnick, 1996) RESNICK, Mitchel. Distributed Constructionism. In Proceedings on.. Learning Sciences Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Northwestern University, Jul. 1996.

(Wooldridge et al, 1999) WOOLDRIDGE, M., JENNINGS, N. R., KINNY, D. A methodology for agent-oriented analysis and design. In O. Etzioni, J. P. Muller, and J. Bradshaw, editors: Agents '99: Proceedings on.. Autonomous Agents, Seattle, WA, 1999, Pag. 69 - 76.