Personalization in an Interactive Learning Environment through a Virtual Character

Autor/inn/en	Reategui, E.; Boff, E.; Campbell, J. A.
Titel	Personalization in an Interactive Learning Environment through a Virtual Character
Quelle	In: Computers & Education, 51 (2008) 2, S.530-544 (15 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0360-1315
DOI	10.1016/j.compedu.2007.05.018
Schlagwörter	Knowledge Representation; Hypermedia; Interaction; Profiles; Natural Language Processing; Instructional Design; Virtual Classrooms; Educational Technology; Individualized Instruction; Intelligent Tutoring Systems; Construct Validity; Artificial Intelligence + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Wissensrepräsentation; Interaktion; Charakterisierung; Profilanalyse; Natürliche Sprache; Lesson concept; Lessonplan; Unterrichtsentwurf; Unterrichtsmedien; Individualisierender Unterricht; Intelligentes Tutorsystem; Künstliche Intelligenz
Abstract	Traditional hypermedia applications present the same content and provide identical navigational support to all users. Adaptive Hypermedia Systems (AHS) make it possible to construct personalized presentations to each user, according to preferences and needs identified. We present in this paper an alternative approach to educational AHS where a virtual character personalizes the interaction with the user through the use of a particular recommender system. The character has natural language communication abilities; it can learn students' profiles and use this knowledge to recommend appropriate contents and activities. Through its interaction with the user, the character is able to collect and organize information about students in order to identify appropriate suggestions of contents. The recommender system employs a knowledge representation scheme that is easy to understand and to modify, enabling teachers/tutors to explore the types of recommendations being made and to appreciate why they are made. An experiment with computer science students was carried out in order to validate the approach proposed. The results of the experiment showed that the presentation of personalized links through a virtual character had a positive impact in the users' perception of the system as a learning tool. The combination of the virtual character with a recommender system proved to be a good alternative for the delivery of personalized contents without making constant changes in the main user interface. This approach provides mechanisms to guide users through paths of study followed by students with similar profiles, without violating the human-computer interaction principle of perceived stability. (Author).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10