Increasing learners' motivation through pedagogical agents: the cast of virtual characters in the dynalearn ILE

  • Authors:

  • Michael Wißner;Wouter Beek;Esther Lozano;Gregor Mehlmann;Floris Linnebank;Jochem Liem;Markus Häring;René Bühling;Jorge Gracia;Bert Bredeweg;Elisabeth André

  • Affiliations:

  • Human Centered Multimedia, Augsburg University, Germany;Human-Computer Studies, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Ontology Engineering Group, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain;Human Centered Multimedia, Augsburg University, Germany;Human-Computer Studies, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Human-Computer Studies, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Human Centered Multimedia, Augsburg University, Germany;Human Centered Multimedia, Augsburg University, Germany;Ontology Engineering Group, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain;Human-Computer Studies, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Human Centered Multimedia, Augsburg University, Germany

  • Venue:
  • AEGS'11 Proceedings of the 2011 international conference on Agents for Educational Games and Simulations
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

Motivation is a critical requirement for successful learning. Previous research has identified that animated pedagogical agents can increase motivation. Following these results, we present the cast of pedagogical agents in the DynaLearn Intelligent Learning Environment. Each of these agents is associated with one of the different support types available in the environment, giving each agent a clearly defined role. We describe the different character roles, how their knowledge is generated and related to the pedagogical purpose at hand, how they interact with the learners and finally how this interaction helps increasing the learners' motivation. To assess this, we conducted a preliminary evaluation with three of the characters and report our findings.