This paper describes the design and implementation of a data gathering agent for a very large sample, by means of distributed computing in an open system. Data gathering relies on a Web form that is distributed in the public domain via the Internet. The first form, the instructor form, generates a second form, the student form, both forms produce local and central data. Central data are delivered to a central server by means of the SMTP protocol and are organized into a database. The database has a Web Interface.
Local data relate to questions inputed by the instructor who generated the student form.
These data are logged in a field formatted file on the local server. The data gathering agent may result in viable user economics because it conbines the private good of the single instructor with the public good of the assessment of technology. The section includes the instrument generation component and the filtering agent component. Web-Enhanced Instruction is defined as the educational activity, mediated through a Web interface, that is guided by the teacher and that usually takes place inside the classroom. Web-Enhanced Learning is defined as the educational activity, mediated through a Web interface, that is usually undertaken by the learner outside the classroom.