Title: Lifelong training with Vincent, a web-based pedagogical agent

Authors: Ana Paiva, Isabel Machado

Addresses: IST-Technical University of Lisbon and INESC, Rua Alves Redol 9, 1000, Lisboa, Portugal. INESC, Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Rua Alves Redol 9, 1000 Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract: In this paper, we address the problem of endowing a web-based training environment (TEMAI) with a synthetic pedagogical agent. TEMAI was built to support, via the web, a small part of a training course for workers in the footwear industry. The architecture of TEMAI combines four modules a set of micro-learning environments, a trainee model, learning material and Vincent - the pedagogical agent. To help the trainees, we created a synthetic character whose job is to foster the learning process, motivating the trainees in each session. Vincent combines a set of sensors and actors that establish message-based communication with the micro-learning environments while gathering information about trainee performance. Vincent has an anthropomorphic screen representation featuring four emotional attitudes sad, happy, disappointed and impatient. These attitudes combined with spoken utterances motivate the trainee to achieve better performance. TEMAI was evaluated by trainees in shoe making factories in the North of Portugal (S. Joao da Madeira). The results showed a small improvement in the trainees| performance after just six sessions. These results highlight the importance of pedagogical agents in on-the job computer-based training environments.

Keywords: internet based educational systems; artificial intelligence; the WWW for education; on-demand education; pedagogical agents.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2002.000433

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2002 Vol.12 No.1/2/3/4, pp.254-266

Published online: 16 Jul 2003 *

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